Crime & Safety

Mother Charged With Child Abuse in Death of 14-Month-Old Child

The St. Charles County prosecutor said an investigation is ongoing, there's another suspect in the case, and he expects additional charges to be filed.

A Wentzville woman is accused of three counts of child abuse in the death of her 14-month-old son.

Stacy Yeager, 34, of the 400 block of Kent Drive in Wentzville, was indicted Monday on three counts of child abuse. Her 14-month-old son, Elijah Yeager, died April 28.

St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said the investigation is ongoing in the case, and he expects additional charges to be filed in the case. Lohmar said there is another suspect in the investigation.

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Lohmar said paramedics found Elijah unresponsive at his home April 22. He was rushed to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where he died April 28. St. Louis County Coroner Mary Case performed an autopsy and ruled Elijah’s death a homicide.

“There was enough evidence for us to proceed with the child abuse charges,” Lohmar said.

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One charge alleges that Yeager seriously injured the child by striking him sometime after April 19, causing the child to suffer from severe head trauma, resulting in his death, Lohmar said.

A second charge involves Yeager leaving Elijah in the care of his father, who has a history of domestic violence, is a current drug user and has a criminal record, according to a court document.

“She was prohibited by the St. Charles County Family Court from having any male living in the home with her,” Lohmar said. “She has exhibited an ongoing pattern of questionable judgment in putting her kids in the care of others.

“And lo and behold, this male, who we believe is the child’s father, was in the home and it’s clear the child died from blunt force trauma,” Lohmar said.

He said Yeager has six other children, and has a history of 32 incidents involving physical abuse and negligence with the Division of Family Services. One case resulted in criminal prosecution against another person, Lohmar said.

“Most of the cases involved (Yeager) having other individuals come into her home, which led to physical or sexual abuse,” Lohmar said.

The previous 32 incidents do not involve Yeager physically abusing her children, Lohmar said.

The indictment reads that Yeager gave false information to first responders regarding who was present when the child went into cardiac arrest.

A third charge is that Yeager “recklessly caused the child to suffer from severe head trauma, resulting in his death.”

“Any of these three theories fit under this relatively new child abuse statute,” Lohmar said. The statute took effect last August.

Yeager is being held by St. Charles County Corrections. Bail was set at $300,000, cash only.

If convicted of any of the child abuse charges, Yeager would not be eligible for parole until she served at least five years of her sentence.

 


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