The parents of a New York City newborn are in jail and charged with reckless endangerment after their 1-month-old son died on April 27. Jenice Lightfoot, 36, and Leonard Thompson, 38, allegedly failed to seek medical treatment for their son, who was reportedly burned during a cooking accident earlier in the month. Attorneys for the family are urging the public not to pass judgment and say this was all a horrific accident.
The infant, who was not named, was reportedly found unconscious around 6:45 a.m. April 27 inside the family’s apartment at 240 Broadway in Staten Island. The baby was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. According to PIX 11, the parents didn’t report the burns because they were allegedly afraid he’d be taken away.
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The father was apparently holding the baby when the accident happened.
Thompson was cooking with hot grease on the stove and holding the infant in his arm on April 11 when the accident occurred, according to court documents obtained by PIX 11.
“I was cooking and holding the baby in my left arm. The 4-year-old kicked a toy, and it hit the pan on the stove and knocked the pan over. As I was walking by the stove with the baby, the grease hit the baby,” he told police.
The parents tried to treat the baby at home.
His burns were reportedly significant, but Lightfoot allegedly told police she thought she would lose her son if she admitted what happened, “I was worried if I made a report and or told youth the truth, you would take him away," she said, according to PIX 11.
Silive.com reported the child suffered two severe burns on his left arm, and the parents “failed to seek medical attention,” per court documents.
The couple’s attorneys want people to refrain from judging the mom and dad.
Attorney Mark Fonte represents Thompson, and Louis Gelormino is representing Lightfoot. Gelormino spoke to Silive.com and asked the court of public opinion to be kind.
“This is an extremely sad, tragic situation,” Gelormino said. “Our office is currently undertaking a thorough investigation into the facts of the case, and we ask the public not to rush to judgment until it’s complete. My partner, Mark, and I want to express our condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the young children.”
A family member defended Lightfoot.
Antonia Lightfoot, 25, told the Daily News that Lightfoot helped raise her and that she is a loving and caring mom.
“She is a good mom; she takes care of her kids very well. She was very nice. Always sweet, always looking out. Always making sure we ate," she said. "I was happy when I heard the news that she was pregnant again.”
The mother’s Instagram showed a happy family shortly after the baby’s birth with the mother writing, “I'm In Love All Over Again.”
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The couple is in jail on hefty bonds.
Both Thompson and Lightfoot pleaded not guilty, Silive.com reported. They are both being held at Rikers Island. Bail was set at $300,000 for Thompson with a $100,000 cash option and $150,000 for Lightfoot with a $50,000 cash option. An exact cause of death has not been released.
