Mankato Father Charged in Baby's Weighted Blanket Suffocation Death

Omni Maxx Morningstar faces manslaughter charges after 10-month-old son Remington Tristan Morningstar died under a 20-pound weighted blanket.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:35pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled, dark-colored weighted blanket against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the evidence of a tragic suffocation incident.A weighted blanket becomes a deadly hazard for an infant, exposing the risks of using such products with young children.Mankato Today

A 26-year-old Mankato, Minnesota father has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after his 10-month-old son, Remington Tristan Morningstar, died from asphyxiation while sleeping under a heavy weighted blanket. Omni Maxx Morningstar reportedly left his son unattended for over 5 hours while the infant was covered by the 20-pound blanket, despite previous incidents and warnings about the dangers of using weighted blankets with young children.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the risks of using weighted blankets with infants and young children, which can lead to suffocation and overheating. It also raises questions about parental supervision and understanding of safety guidelines, especially for parents with special needs like autism. The incident has prompted renewed calls for greater public awareness and regulation around the use of weighted products for babies.

The details

According to the criminal charges, Omni Maxx Morningstar placed his 10-month-old son face-down on a bed and covered him with a 20-pound weighted blanket around 11 a.m. on October 1, 2025. Morningstar then left the infant unattended for over 5 hours, working on his computer with headphones on, until he found the baby unresponsive just before 4 p.m. The Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as probable asphyxia due to compression by the weighted blanket. Morningstar had previously been warned about the dangers of using weighted blankets with his son, who had overheated twice before under the heavy covers.

  • On October 1, 2025, Morningstar placed his 10-month-old son under a 20-pound weighted blanket around 11 a.m.
  • Morningstar found his son unresponsive just before 4 p.m. on October 1, 2025.

The players

Omni Maxx Morningstar

A 26-year-old Mankato, Minnesota father who has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of his 10-month-old son, Remington Tristan Morningstar.

Remington Tristan Morningstar

The 10-month-old son of Omni Maxx Morningstar who died from asphyxiation after being left under a 20-pound weighted blanket for over 5 hours.

Isabella Morningstar

The mother of Remington Tristan Morningstar, who had previously found her son covered in a king-sized blanket with a high fever and warned Omni Maxx Morningstar about the dangers of using weighted blankets.

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What they’re saying

“I'm thinking in my head, like, five hours. Huh. I really do wish I would have checked on him. I mean it only happened twice before. It spiked two times and we fixed him two times.”

— Omni Maxx Morningstar, Father

What’s next

Omni Maxx Morningstar is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, where a judge will decide whether to allow him to be released on bail pending his trial.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the urgent need for greater public awareness and regulation around the use of weighted blankets and other potentially dangerous products for infants and young children. It also raises difficult questions about parental responsibility, supervision, and understanding of safety guidelines, especially for parents with special needs.