Photo: Marion County Sheriff
(Knoxville, IA ) -- A Knoxville mother is out on bail, charged in the child endangerment death of her newborn son. Investigators say it's the second baby die while co-sleeping with her. The Marion County Sheriff responded to a home at 1415 110th Place in Knoxville. A caller stated an infant was not breathing, unresponsive, and had no pulse. The caller told authorities that CPR was in progress. The baby was taken to Knoxville Area Community Hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced deceased.
According to a Marion County Court affidavit, the five-week-old died November 21st after his mother, Brigette Renard, said she fell asleep while breastfeeding him in bed.
Documents show the 19-year-old first told investigators the baby had been sleeping in a bassinet, but later admitted he was in bed with her and her partner.
Investigators say Renard lost another biological child in a co-sleeping incident in 2023. Renard is charged with child endangerment causing death.