CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky mother was charged with manslaughter and three counts of child abuse after her 6-month-old daughter died from apparent malnutrition.
The Campbellsville Police Department arrested 24-year-old Haley Fisher on Monday. Along with those charges, Fisher is charged with two counts of wanton endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine).
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According to Fisher's arrest citation, police responded to a home on Anna Court on Saturday, Feb. 3, around 10:30 p.m. on a report of a dead infant. When police and the coroner's office arrived, detectives said there was "evidence that the child had been neglected and malnourished."
EMS noted the child appeared pale and dehydrated. The citation said there was a space heater on in the child's room with the door closed and the room temperature was 85 degrees.
Fisher told police she had not taken the child to the doctor since it was born and said the young girl had been losing weight since around Christmas, the citation said. In a police interview after her arrest, Fisher said "she knew there was something wrong" and the infant actually began losing weight around Thanksgiving.
When the officer asked why she didn't seek medical attention for the child, Fisher said she didn't have a vehicle and couldn't get to the hospital. However, when police asked her how she gets groceries, she said her friends take her to get food.
The detective wrote in the citation that Fisher had "ample resources" to get the child medical attention "but refused to do so."
Child Protective Services (CPS) immediately began an investigation into Fisher on Feb. 3 through Feb.4.
A CPS agent removed Fisher's 3 and 1-year-old sons from the home for a medical evaluation at the Taylor Regional Hospital. According to CPS, the youngest son tested positive for methamphetamine on Feb. 4.
Authorities executed a search warrant of the home on Monday and detectives again questioned Fisher.
The mother told police the night her infant died, she and another man smoked meth in her bedroom with the door open and all three children inside the home. Fisher said she found the baby unresponsive about 30 minutes later.
Fisher admitted to using meth about every other day, sometimes three times a week and used the drug when her children were home and in her room, according to the citation.
Before the search was over, an officer asked Fisher if she had anything hidden in her bra. She pulled out a black key used to unlock a black safe on the kitchen table.
Inside the safe, authorities found numerous drug paraphernalia items including pipes, grinders and scales. She told police the residue on the scales would test positive for meth.
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