WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — A 22-year-old Wyoming woman is in the Kent County jail in connection to the suspicious death of her child, police say.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety said it was advised the woman had taken her 6-month-old boy to the emergency room at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The infant was dead on arrival, according to police.
Police believe the infant died in the 2600 block of McKee Avenue SW. His mother was arrested late Wednesday night, officers said.
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said his office has issued charges of felony murder and first-degree child abuse against Lovily Johnson. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Court records show that in addition to the infant, Johnson also has a child that was born in 2015. Records also show Johnson had taken out a personal protection order against the father of her first-born child, claiming she feared for the safety of herself and children after he hit her and bit her in the face.
The father pleaded guilty to aggravated domestic violence in September and was sentenced to one day in jail. He currently has a bench warrant for allegedly being almost $6,000 behind in child support.
A family friend told 24 Hour News 8 he is the father of the child who died and also said the suspect’s mother is on her way to Michigan from Mississippi.
Johnson pleaded guilty to embezzlement of less than $200 in September, but failed to make payments on her fines.
Johnson is expected to be arraigned on Friday.