Sacramento

California Mom Charged With Manslaughter in Death of Infant

The mother of an infant found dead near the Sacramento River was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter and abusing or endangering the health of a child.

Samantha Green, 23, of Woodland was expected to make her first court appearance later in the day.

She was arrested Saturday in the death of 20-day-old Justice Rees, whose body was found Feb. 25 near the rural town of Knights Landing, about 30 miles west of Sacramento.

The charges include an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury on a child under 5 during the commission of a felony, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said.

The boy's body was found with no obvious signs of trauma in a swampy area known as the River Cut Slough. Sheriff's investigators say he may have died from drowning or hypothermia.

A three-page criminal complaint alleges Green acted without malice.

The mother and child were reported missing Feb. 23 after failing to show up for a family event three days earlier. She was found disoriented the next day, and the baby's body was discovered after an all-night search.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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