In a shocking end to a tragic case, Judge Mark Stoner found Dacia Lacey, 32, not guilty of neglect of a dependent despite her confession to smothering her two-month-old daughter, Alona, while high on methamphetamine with her actions leading to the incredibly sad death of the young girl.
Stoner, who already faced calls to resign after a recent ruling concerning a cop killer, inexplicably scolded the defendant while setting her free. ”There are some things you can never do. You can never have sole possession of your children and go out and use drugs. You’re not innocent, but you’re not guilty of what the state has charged you with,” he said.
The judge claimed there was no evidence to support the state’s charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Stoner stated that not every mistake is criminal and that “something has to be done with criminal intent and criminal responsibility.”
Defense attorneys argued that there was no evidence of long-term neglect injuries to the two-month-old baby and that the pathologist was unable to provide a cause or manner of death. However, tests proved Lacey had meth in her system on the day of the incident.
Stoner indicated that the prosecutor should be blamed for his surprising decision. ”It’s important to understand that the prosecutor chooses the charges. It’s the prosecutor that’s elected. The prosecutor has a screening division to make decisions as to what should be charged,” he said.
NEW: Indianapolis mother walks free after admitting to smothering her 2-month-old baby to death between two couch cushions while high on meth.
Judge Mark Stoner found Dacia Lacey not guilty of neglect resulting in death.
Lacey confessed that she wanted her daughter to stop… pic.twitter.com/YCe0Qcjagz
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 18, 2024
Court records revealed that Lacey confessed to investigators how she smothered the infant while on meth because the child’s crying was interfering with her need to sleep. Shockingly, testimony also revealed that Lacey’s other daughter, who was three years old at the time, witnessed her mother taking a pillow and smothering Alona.
The case has reignited debates about the justice system and the many shortcomings it has shown to citizens who onced had a firm faith in it. Many are outraged that a mother who confessed to smothering her infant child while under the influence of drugs could walk free without facing any consequences for her actions.
