BENTONVILLE — Bond was set at $100,000 each for a Siloam Springs husband and wife arrested in connection with their 6-month-old son’s death.
Austin Moss and his wife Jennifer Moss were arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of their 6-month-old son. They were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and were being held Wednesday in the Benton County Jail on $100,000 bonds.
Austin Moss told police that he awakened to find his 6-month-old son dead in bed with him and his wife, according to court documents.
Their arrests stems from an investigation that began Jan. 25 when firefighters and police officers responded to a call to 300 Meadow Court No. 8 for a report of a 6-month-old on cardiac arrest. The baby was found without a pulse and wasn't breathing. Lifesaving attempts were unsuccessful.
The baby's body was sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy and preliminary results indicate that the child's cause of death was asphyxia due to co-sleeping, according to court documents.
Austin Moss told police that he awakened June 25 and found his son underneath him, according to court documents. He told police that his son was blue and was not breathing, the probable cause affidavit states.
Austin Moss, 21, of Gentry told police that he woke up on Jan . 24 and began smoking methamphetamine and did not sleep until the following night, according to a probable cause affidavit. Moss said he and his wife began smoking marijuana and would take turns holding the baby while the other one smoked, the probable cause affidavit states. Moss said they smoked 1 to 2 bowls of marijuana before going to bed, according to affidavit.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Austin Moss told police that he slept "really hard" that night because he had not slept the night before and he normally feels the baby against him when he sleeps, but did not feel him that night.
Jennifer Moss, 19, of Gentry also talked with police and confirmed that she and her husband had smoked methamphetamine and 2 to 3 bowls of marijuana before going to bed on June 25 in order to sleep, the affidavit states.
Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against the couple.
Their arraignments are set for 8 a.m. March 23 in Circuit Judge Brad Karren’s court.