Lydia M. Ginger, a mother of five in Missouri, has been accused of attempting to kill several of her children, including a newborn, by allegedly smothering them with pillows in a motel room. Ginger has been charged with multiple offenses, including four counts of first-degree domestic assault, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of child abuse or neglect.
The Disturbing Incident
The incident took place at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Jefferson City on Sunday night. Around 11 p.m., a child under the age of 12, referred to as “Victim 1” in court documents, called 911 and reported being attacked by their mother.
The child explained to the dispatcher that Lydia Ginger had tried to strangle them and had threatened to kill the other siblings. During the attack, the child was able to lock themselves in the bathroom and make the emergency call. The dispatcher reported hearing yelling in the background during the call.
Upon arriving at the scene, police found Ginger in the hallway, just outside the room where she was staying with her children, all of whom were under 12 years old. She appeared intoxicated and allegedly told the officers that the child who called 911 did what they had to do. According to the affidavit, the child also told authorities that Ginger had smothered them with a pillow, attempting to suffocate them.
The Other Victims and Investigation
The child also reported witnessing Ginger smothering a less than three-month-old baby, identified as “Victim 2,” with a pillow. Additionally, a child under the age of 8, known as “Victim 3,” claimed that Ginger had also attempted to suffocate them with a pillow. One of the children reportedly said that Ginger had told all of the children that “if one dies, they all die.”
After her arrest, Ginger was interviewed by police. She admitted to the disturbance but claimed that she “blacked out” and couldn’t remember what had happened. She said she “snapped” and couldn’t deny that she had smothered her children, attributing her actions to postpartum depression.
Evidence and Arrest
A search of the hotel room revealed multiple empty bottles of alcohol and four pillows, two of which had their pillowcases removed, which matched the descriptions provided by the children. Ginger, also known as Lydia Gillispie, was taken into custody and is being held without bond at the Cole County Jail due to concerns that she is a danger to the community. She has been ordered to have no contact with her children.
Legal Consequences
Ginger faces serious charges in connection with the alleged attack on her children. As of now, there have been no court dates set for her case. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure justice for the children involved in this tragic incident.
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