Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Delran woman who fatally smothered her infant son after consuming a large amount of alcohol was sentenced today to four years in New Jersey state prison.
Under an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, Melissa Johnson, 39, pled guilty to Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree) in exchange for the sentence, which was handed down by the Hon. Philip E. Haines, J.S.C.
Paramedics were dispatched to the defendant’s home on February 18, 2015, for a report of an unresponsive child. The investigation revealed that a relative arriving at the house found Johnson asleep on the couch with her 3-month-old son partially wedged underneath her.
The investigation further revealed that the defendant had been consuming alcohol for several hours prior to being discovered. Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood concluded that the infant died as a result of being accidentally asphyxiated.
“This is a heartbreaking and tragic occurrence for everybody involved,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “But justice demands accountability for such actions, and in this case that includes a sentence involving incarceration.”
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Delran Township Police Department.
This btch should have received life
I agree.
Kill your kid….its worth ONLY 4 years…..what the fuck!!!!!!
Stan B. Sr. Hey she feel asleep we’ve all done that raising kids lol seriously but never smothered them totally sickening and get 4 years should be death
Harry Parks agreed.
Harry Parks ummm she was Drunk ? did you get plastered when you had an infant in your home ?
Monica L Celli I never did….leadership.by example…no matter how old they were….and still do today!
Harry Parks she was intoxicated. ??♀️ She needs to never be aloud to have children again.
Our judicial system SUCKS!!!
I smell a bought judge. Afterwards force her into sober living n a forced hysterectomy. No more kids for her
Scott A Barnes I like that
Scott A Barnes if only
to those of you saying she didnt get enough time… if she actually cared about her kid, shell be paying the rest of her life with guilt… if shes a sociopath… well then… no not enough time, but bottom line, it was deeemd accidental.
Daria Grippo Getting So intoxicated that you can’t care for your child is Not accidental…Our system sucks!
she was probably charged with criminally negligent homicide with time served. its just a tragedy… some ppl just shouldnt breed…
Endangering the welfare of a child is what her final charge was…. Inexcusable!!
wow really?? that doesnt seem exactly just…. must depend on other factors we arent aware of
Daria Grippo I guess but really what other factors could there be..??…So disgusted over this!
OMG…..F…..G PIG
And……nooooo we have not all been drunk & fallen asleep while watching our babies/children or grandkids. 4 years for murder?
Paula Zygmaniak Weber I know I havent . Hell I forget what it feels like to have a buzz lol
Skye Marie Williams right? There is a time & place for everything & this POS murdered the baby
Paula Zygmaniak Weber she did not. It’s an accident she will have to live with in her head forever
It’s not accidental when you consume alcohol especially to the point that you are that drunk that you pass out and roll over on and smother your infant child…it’s sheer being irresponsible as a parent…yes she will have to live with it for the rest of her life but only 4 years for what she’s done just doesn’t seem like justice for what she’s done to that poor child
Robin Lee Thank you….I’m not buying the accident bs. SORRY….she never should have started drinking period.
Robin Lee I think it’s more likely she is an alcoholic. I don’t know anyone that drinks till they pass out unless they have a drinking problem. I believe it was accidental she is going to have to deal with the guilt for remainder of her life
Only 4 years
Wow 4 yrs that’s it?!?
4 years??? What a disgrace
Wow …a child is only worth 4 fn years . How disgusting. Hang her
Only 4yrs.
People with pot charges do longer time.
Skewed ass system
4 yrs wtf that bitch will get beat in jail everyday once those women see she is a baby KILLER….she will wish she was dead also
what a world we live in , kill your baby and you get 4 yrs in jail , should have gotten the death penalty
Accidentally that sounds more like on perpus
Saddened, she’ll have to live with this the rest of her life..prayers
Why are you all sickening people judging only God judges
Her punishment is having to live with herself. Very sad accident
Should have smoked weed
Terrible 🙁 funny how this is seen as disgraceful tho but people these days seem to be celebrating being able to end the lives of their unborn children in the womb. Either way, so sad..
May he rest in peace. ?