Bear River woman faces manslaughter in death of baby son

Tuesday, January 31, 2012  

A member of the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria in California has been offered a plea deal for the death of her six-week-old son.

Prosecutors want Maggie Jean Wortman, 27, to plead guilty to manslaughter. Her son died in November 2010 after ingesting breast milk that was laced with methamphetamine.

Wortman was initially indicted for murder but a judge dismissed it for lack of evidence. If she doesn't take the manslaughter deal, prosecutors intend to refile the murder charge.

The tribe has agreed to pay for Wortman's drug rehabilitation, The Eureka Times-Standard reported.

Get the Story:
Wortman offered manslaughter plea; methamphetamine breast milk case could be refiled as murder if mom declines deal (The Eureka Times-Standard 1/31)