A mother from Missouri, Mariah Thomas, aged 28, has been sentenced to over a decade in prison. She reached a plea agreement after initially facing a first-degree murder charge for the death of her infant daughter.
According to Jackson County court records, Thomas pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death. She will serve 13 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections without probation and will receive credit for time already served.
The incident occurred on February 9, 2024. Kansas City police responded to a call about a baby not breathing at approximately 1:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the infant, a 1-month-old named Za’riah Thomas, dead with severe burns. Kansas City Fire Department personnel confirmed death at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Thomas had allegedly placed her daughter in an oven instead of a crib, according to documents provided by the police. A family member reported Thomas said, “I thought I put [her] in her crib and I accidentally put her in the oven.” Clothing worn by the infant appeared melted, and a burnt blanket was found nearby.
Originally, Thomas faced a first-degree murder charge, but prosecutors dismissed this as part of her plea deal. Then-Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker highlighted the tragedy’s “gruesome” nature.
Thomas did not immediately communicate with investigators post-arrest but allowed access to her cellphone data and agreed to a blood sample. Judge Sarah A. Castle confirmed Thomas entered her plea freely, without contesting mental health defenses. The judgment required her to pay $68 to Missouri’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
Upon sentencing, Thomas was transferred to Jackson County sheriff’s custody for processing before moving to state prison.