Columbia woman charged in baby’s death to be in court Tuesday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman charged in connection with a baby's death is set to be in court Tuesday morning at the Boone County Courthouse for a pre-trial conference.

Sarah D. Brown is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter for the death of Ayla Gibson. Prosecutors charged Brown after she allegedly put Gibson in a crib with a loose, unfitted blanket and pillow in a position that resulted in death by suffocation, according to court documents.

Gibson's parents allegedly told Brown the baby had a viral lung infection and told Brown to have the baby sleep on her back, but a probable cause statement says Brown ignored the parents' instructions.

Brown allegedly admitted to police that she lied about how she found the baby. She told police she found Gibson lying on her back.

Court documents say the daycare was unlicensed. Brown had 12 children in her care at the time of Gibson's death and was not licensed with the state.

Brown will be in front of Judge Jeff Harris at 10:30 a.m.

Brown's jury trial is set to begin on June 10.