A former Marine and his wife have been arrested and charged for allegedly suffocating their two-year-old daughter with a suitcase.
Kodi Glenn Simon and Kateri Ann Simon, both 30, allegedly caused the death of their little girl Maeve when the heavy case, meant to keep her from escaping, fell on her crib, pinned her down by her neck and suffocated her.
A federal indictment made public this week charges the former US Marine Corps staff sergeant and his wife with one count each of involuntary manslaughter over the 2022 death that happened when the couple lived at MacDill Air Force Base.
The parents were arrested on January 16 near Cleveland, Ohio.
Federal court records indicate that the couple remained in jail pending a hearing on their continued detention and return to eventual return to Florida.
The federal indictment, filed in the Middle District of Florida earlier this month, accused the parents of causing their child’s death by actions taken ‘without malice.’
‘[O]n or about July 1, 2022, through on or about November 27, 2022, at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida […] the defendants Kodi Glenn Simon and Kateri Ann Simon, aiding and abetting one another, did unlawfully kill Victim 1, without malice, in the commission in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection, of a lawful act which might produce death,’ the two-page indictment obtained by Law&Crime states.
The report claims the father-of-three ‘endangered the safety of his daughter’ by placing her in a portable crib and then putting ‘a foam mattress and suitcase filled with books’ on top of the crib.
‘Such conduct constituted culpable negligence which resulted in grievous bodily harm, to wit: mechanical asphyxiation resulting in death,’ the indictment reads.
Another report from the Florida Department of Children and Families revealed additional details about the circumstances surrounding the baby girl’s untimely death.
According to the report, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, the two-year-old girl had been having difficulties sleeping at night, often climbing out of her crib, then messing up her room and waking up her two siblings.
Concerned about Maeve’s behavior as well as her safety, the worry-stricken parents tried to put Maeve in a Pack N’ Play – a portable sleeping space for babies and young toddlers – but she was able to climb out of that as well, the report adds.
The parents then attempted to cover the portable crib with a zip-on mesh top, while also dressing the baby in a sleep sack that covered her legs and restricted movement, however, the child still managed to escape.
The couple then began stacking the book-filled suitcase, which reportedly weighed about 50 pounds, on top of the mesh covering along with the children’s foam couch – in efforts to keep the baby from climbing out.
Kodi said he put the three kids to bed between about 8.30pm and 9pm that night and continued hearing Maeve ‘babble’ for an additional 15 minutes before she stopped, assuming she had fallen asleep.
His wife, Kateri, arrived home a few hours later, but did not check on her three ‘sleeping’ children, aged 2, 4 and 6, according to the report.
At about 9.30am the following morning, she reportedly went into the children’s room and found Maeve inside the crib with the suitcase and other items, pinning her neck down.
The parents immediately called 911, but the child was declared dead upon arriving at a local hospital.
‘The parents knowingly placed items over the top of the toddler’s Pack N’ Play in an effort to keep her confined inside,’ a DCF investigator wrote in the report.
‘Although they were not doing it for discipline purposes, and although they were not willfully trying to harm her, their actions ultimately led to her demise.’
Authorities noted in the report that Maeve’s siblings both appeared to be well cared for and the parents had no previous incidents involving the welfare of their children.
Kodi, who previously pleaded guilty to child endangerment at his court martial last year, waived extradition and is being transported from Ohio to Florida.
Kateri was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond, federal records show.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been organized by a friend of the family, aimed at helping the devastated family cover the costs of their baby girl’s funeral.
‘Tragedy has stuck this amazing military family. It is with great sadness that sweet little Maeve has passed away,’ the page reads.
‘Maeve was a loving, sweet, rambunctious little joy. She lost her life in a tragic accident at the sweet age of only 2. She was the light to many people life. Although she is gone from this world, she will remain in the hearts of all who knew her. Our worlds will never be same.’
The fundraising page has exceeded its goal of $10,000, raising a total of $10,627 as of Friday evening.