Alexsia Brina Miller, 31, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after her 3-month-old daughter was found unresponsive at a Minneapolis home on Jan. 5. The Hennepin County medical examiner later ruled the cause of death positional asphyxia. Prosecutors are moving ahead with the case, and Miller is scheduled to appear in court in July.
How investigators say it unfolded
According to KSTP, Minneapolis police were called to a residence on Jan. 5 after a 911 caller reported that a baby was not breathing. Paramedics arrived and later declared the infant dead.
Court documents cited by the station say Miller told the 911 dispatcher she had been sleeping with the infant, had taken a sleeping pill before going to bed, and woke to find her arm on top of the child. The criminal complaint charges her with one count of second-degree manslaughter, and KSTP reports Miller is not currently in custody.
What the law says
Under Minnesota law, second-degree manslaughter covers conduct involving “culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk,” meaning prosecutors must show the defendant consciously took chances that could cause death, according to the Revisor of Minnesota. The charge is a felony under state law and can carry potential prison time and fines under Minnesota sentencing rules if there is a conviction.
Safe-sleep context
Public-health experts have long warned that sleeping with infants and other unsafe sleep setups increase the risk of suffocation and sleep-related deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents and caregivers to share a room but not a bed with infants, to place babies on their backs to sleep, and to avoid soft bedding and caregiver impairment from substances. Those recommendations are reflected in federal and pediatric safety guidance. More details are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Local context
The case lands amid other recent prosecutions tied to child deaths in the Twin Cities. That includes a June Hoodline report on a grandma charged after toddler's death. Together, such cases highlight how local authorities have brought manslaughter and related counts when investigators link a child's death to caregiver decisions or alleged neglect.
Next steps
Miller is scheduled for a first court appearance on July 9, according to records cited by KSTP. The case will move through Hennepin County court, where prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to argue over the evidence and how the law applies as the proceedings continue.
