A 34-year-old woman will serve several years in prison after pleading guilty to the death of her 2-month-old son, who was found deceased in a couch cushion with drugs in his system.
Jennifer Cooper pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to children, and possession of a controlled substance just days before her scheduled trial on March 18th. A judge sentenced Cooper to eight years in prison followed by 12 years of probation.
The tragic incident occurred on August 3, 2023, when Chatham County Police Department officers responded to a home on Quacco Road and discovered the deceased infant, Randy Taylor Jr. Cooper was present at the scene and was subsequently arrested.
Prosecutors stated that Cooper had fed her son a bottle and then fallen asleep on the couch. Upon her husband’s return, he inquired about the baby’s whereabouts. Cooper then found the infant “cold to the touch within the couch cushion.”
During court hearings, prosecutors described the “deplorable” living conditions in the home and revealed that drugs were found near where the infant was discovered. Both Cooper and Taylor Jr. tested positive for methamphetamine.
A detective testified that the infant had injuries to his neck and back, swelling near his eyes, blood on his face, and an indentation on his head.
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Adding to the tragedy, it was revealed that another of Cooper’s children had died on the same couch a year prior from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
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