KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An Algoma woman left her 7-month-old baby unattended in a bathtub for several minutes, leading to the child drowning, prosecutors said in court Tuesday.
Cheyanne Wierichs was arrested Monday.
She has not been formally charged, but police are recommending she be charged with neglecting a child resulting in death, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
Police were dispatched to the 400 block of Fourth Street in Algoma on February 9.
At the scene, they found the 7-month-old child not breathing and pulseless.
“Upon arrival he was met with Cheyanne Wierichs, and observed an infant not responding, he performed CPR on the child until personnel, rescue personnel took over,” Kewaunee County district attorney Andrew Naze said.
Prosecutors said the baby’s death happened when Wierichs was bathing multiple children.
When she returned to the bathroom, she found the baby face-down in the tub.
Prosecutors say her daughter later died at the hospital.
“Officers conducted a search of the residence. Within the residence, they found a small baggie containing a white powdery substance, the powder was tested using a reagent test kit and gave a presumptive positive test for the presence of methamphetamine. They also found a glass pipe that was also tested and that was positive for the presence of methamphetamine,” Naze said.
A judge set a $25,000 signature bond for Wierichs.
An attorney for the suspect says Wierichs has lived in Algoma her whole life.
“She is a high school graduate, her family is also in Algoma and she is currently working full time. So she does have significant ties to the area. I don’t believe there is a prior criminal record though I didn’t look too deep,” public defender Amanda Toonen said.
She is due back in court Feb. 25.
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