FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. – Authorities arrested a mother and her boyfriend earlier this week in connection with a child’s death in southern Missouri.
Rylee Fararro and Hayden Rosener face felony charges for abuse or neglect of a child (resulting in death) and endangering the welfare of a child. Rosener also faces a drug possession charge in the investigation.
The Fredericktown Police Department reports that officers found a child unresponsive Wednesday at a home, shortly before the child was pronounced deceased at a hospital. Police did not disclose the child’s name, age or gender.
While investigating, police began to question Fararro, the child’s mother, and Rosener, her boyfriend, for questioning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also activated its division of drug and crime control to investigate.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Rosener told authorities that he was assisting the child in a bathroom when the child struck the side of a toilet and fell. He alleges that the child was previously throwing temper tantrums and dealing with an upset stomach.
Court documents further revealed that the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division responded to the home last November and recommended that Rosener should not be left alone with the child. The evaluation cited drug use and unpredictable behavior concerns.
Per court documents, Rosener claimed he had joint care of the child while in a relationship with Fararro the last several months.
Rosener is jailed in Madison County, Missouri on a $1 million cash-only bond. Fararro is jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond.