Two years after a three-month-old infant died, allegedly in her care, a north Iowa woman has been charged in the death of the child.
On February 28, 2021, Mason City Police were called to the 100 block of 6th Street Southwest on a report of an unresponsive child that was not breathing. The Mason City Fire Department also responded and transported the child to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, where the infant was pronounced dead upon arrival.
An investigation began into the welfare of the deceased infant, another infant in the residence, and other children that lived there. The Iowa DCI and the Iowa State Office of the Medical Examiner assisted in the investigation.
Thursday, MCPD arrested 29-year-old Allyssa Luke of Plymouth in connection with the death of a 3-month-old child and the near death of another child about the same age. She is charged with child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony; and child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class D felony.
A statement from the MCPD reads, “The child endangerment charges are based on Luke’s role as the custodial parent of these two children and her willful deprivation of proper nutrition.”
Luke is in the Cerro Gordo County Jail, pending further court proceedings.
