Prosecutor: Hamilton mother’s drug use led to infant’s smothering death

Saralin April Walden

Credit: BUTLER COUNTY JAIL

Credit: BUTLER COUNTY JAIL

Saralin April Walden

A Hamilton woman charged in the death of her infant last October was using drugs and smothered her daughter, according to Butler County court documents.

Saralin April Walden, 25, of the 100 block of Jeff Scott Lane, was indicted March 6 by a Butler County grand jury for involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and child endangering, a third degree felony. She was arraigned a few days later in common pleas court, where Judge Charles Pater set bond at $50,000.

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Walden’s 3-month-old daughter, Rae’Anna, was injured while in her care Oct. 23 and was pronounced dead five days later at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, according to prosecutors.

In court documents filed last week, prosecutors say Walden was using “illegal substances either at the time of or within close proximity to the time of her caring for her child, and passed out and/or fell asleep on top of the infant suffocating the infant.”

The baby girl died of “positional and compressional asphyxia,” according to prosecutors.

“These are very serious charges,” Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Heile said during Walden’s arraignment. “The charges arise out of drug usage surrounding the care of her her child.”

Walden is scheduled to be back in court May 7 for a pre-trial hearing.

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