Guilty plea in infant asphyxiation death

A central Minnesota mother would spend 30 days in jail for the asphyxiation death of her infant daughter and a positive drug test for her 1-year-old child under a plea agreement in the case.

Nicole McKay, 26, has pleaded guilty to child endangerment in the death of her 2-month-old daughter, Emma Dennis, who died Nov. 25, 2013. A medical examiner determined the child died of "positional asphyxiation," meaning the child had suffocated.

McKay admitted to ingesting a controlled substance, getting up during the night to feed the infant and then falling asleep with the baby who was later found dead on a pillow on the floor, said Benton County Attorney Philip Miller.

McKay had been charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count each of child neglect and child endangerment, according to the St. Cloud Times.

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McKay also pleaded guilty to a separate charge relating to her 21-month-old son who had tested positive for meth, heroin and oxycodone. She was accused of leaving drug paraphernalia where the boy could reach it. She pleaded guilty to a charge of storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child.

McKay faces sentencing June 5. The plea agreement calls for sentences in both cases to run consecutively and for McKay to serve 30 days in jail.

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Information from: St. Cloud Times