Couple Charged After Newborn Baby Tossed Over Embankment

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A Kentucky couple, Deeann Bennett and Charles Bennett, have been charged with reckless homicide and other felonies after allegedly tossing their newborn baby over an embankment at their home in Booneville. The investigation began in November 2024 when authorities were called about a female who had been transported to a local hospital claiming to have had a miscarriage, but the couple later informed police the infant remained at their residence, where troopers found the unresponsive newborn over an embankment outside the home.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the need for greater access to mental health resources and support for new parents, as well as the importance of thorough investigations into suspicious infant deaths. It also raises questions about potential gaps in the social safety net that may have contributed to this horrific outcome.

The details

According to Kentucky State Police, the investigation began on November 29, 2024, when troopers in Richmond received a 911 call about a female who had been transported to a local hospital after claiming to have a miscarriage. The couple then informed authorities that the infant remained at their residence on Lewis Lane in Booneville, where troopers and detectives found the unresponsive newborn over an embankment outside the home. The newborn was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Owsley County Coroner.

• The investigation began on November 29, 2024 when police received a 911 call.
• Deeann Bennett and Charles Bennett were arrested on Monday following their indictment by an Owsley County Grand Jury.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge will decide on the couple's bail status at a hearing on Tuesday.