A married couple in Kentucky has been accused of killing their baby after the mother claimed to suffer a miscarriage, only for the baby’s lifeless body to later be found outside of their home.
The Kentucky State Police announced that Deeann Bennett and Charles Bennett were arrested and taken into custody on Monday, February 9. They were charged with one count each of reckless homicide and concealing the birth of an infant. Deeann, 27, has also been charged with counts of tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.
Authorities explained that the investigation into the couple began on November 29, 2024, when the state police’s Post 7 unit responded to a 911 call around 10:30 a.m. about a woman who suffered a “possible miscarriage,” according to a news release. The woman, who was later identified as Deeann, was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
When both Deeann and Charles, 32, were at the hospital, they “informed authorities that the infant remained at their residence” in Booneville, Kentucky.
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“Troopers and detectives responded to the residence, where they located an unresponsive infant over an embankment outside the home,” KSP Post 7 Public Affairs Officer Justin Kearney said in a statement shared in the release. “Owsley County Coroner Rob Morgan pronounced the infant deceased at the scene.”
After authorities located the body, the infant was transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort, Kentucky, for an autopsy so that they could determine the manner and cause of the child’s death.
The autopsy results have not been publicly released as of the time of publication.
Both Deeann and Charles are being held in custody at the Three Forks Jail without bond, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly. It is not currently clear if either Deann or Charles have entered pleas or retained legal representation following their arrests.
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Online records indicated that both Deeann and Charles are scheduled to appear in court for their arraignment hearings on the morning of March 2.
If Deeann and Charles are found guilty of the reckless homicide charge, they can be sentenced to serve between one to five years in prison and be ordered to pay a fine up to $10,000.
Meanwhile, the sentence for a person who is guilty of concealing the birth of an infant depends on the intent behind the act and whether or not the baby is alive, according to the Kentucky Legislature. The crime is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 12 months in jail. Those found guilty of the charge can also be ordered to pay fines of up to $500.
If Deann if found guilty of tampering with physical evidence, she could be sentenced to an additional one to five years in state prison and be ordered to pay fines between $1,000 to $10,000.
Meanwhile, the abuse of a corpse charge is a Class A misdemeanor that is punishable by 90 days to one year in jail.
