Missouri mother sentenced to 13 years for infant's death in oven

Mariah Thomas, 28, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison following the death of her one-month-old daughter, Za’Riah Mae, in Kansas City, Missouri. The sentencing occurred in Jackson County after Thomas pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death.

The incident took place in February 2024, when emergency responders were called to a home on Forest Avenue after reports that an infant was not breathing. Authorities found the infant with severe burns; the Kansas City Fire Department pronounced her dead at the scene. Investigators stated that Thomas claimed she intended to put the baby down for a nap but accidentally placed her in an oven instead of a crib.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed an initial first-degree murder charge. Thomas will serve her sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections and will receive credit for time already served in custody. She was not granted probation.