Coroner: Baby suffocated during Fort Collins mom's 18-hour nap

Alicia Stice
The Coloradoan
Mandi Woodall

The infant found dead inside a Fort Collins home in late May accidentally suffocated in bed while his mother slept with him, according to findings from the Larimer County Coroner's Office. 

The boy's 28-year-old mother, Mandi Woodall, was arrested following his death. She faces charges of child abuse resulting in death and two separate counts of felony child abuse.

The autopsy report indicated that Woodall's 3-month-old son asphyxiated due to someone sleeping on top of him, constrictive bedding or a combination of the two. The coroner ruled the death an accident.

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Woodall initially told investigators that she took a two-hour nap with her baby and woke up to find him unresponsive. Investigators later came to believe that she actually was asleep for about 18 hours prior to waking and finding the child unresponsive.

Investigators also said that drugs played a role in the incident.

In June, prosecutors revealed they were upping two of the child abuse charges against Woodall — charges related to her two other children — from misdemeanor to felony child abuse. That move came after those children tested positive for methamphetamine, indicating they had ingested the drug that was present in Woodall's home.

The two children were left unattended while Woodall slept and showed signs of neglect, police said. The infant who died did not test positive for any substances. 

Woodall is next due in court later this month.

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