KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A mother has been charged with murder in connection to the death of her 1-year-old child, according to prosecutors.
Donniesha Lasha Lee,19, was charged second-degree murder Friday for allegedly killing her daughter on March 26, 2015.
According to court documents, Lee was drinking and holding the toddler on her chest. Lee allegedly struck the child repeatedly as she told the child to be quiet. Authorities say that others at the home in the 6900 block of 119th Street asked her to stop and give them the child, but Lee allegedly refused.
Witnesses told prosecutors that Lee was holding the toddler extremely tight against her chest, which caused the child’s crying to be muffled.
After hearing a series of muffled cries and trying to convince Lee to loosen up her grip on the toddler, witnesses told prosecutors that they noticed that the 1-year-old appeared motionless.
Lee told prosecutors that she was cradling the toddler in her arms when they both fell asleep. Lee said she woke up when she heard others screaming.
First responders took the child to a metro hospital, but the toddler was pronounced dead shortly after.
Lee was originally charged with first-degree child abuse and domestic assault charges, Jackson County prosecutors said.
Prosecutors have requested a $250,000 bond in the case.