Ankeny infant tested positive for cocaine metabolite, died of asphyxia

An Ankeny infant tested positive for cocaine metabolite but likely died of asphyxia from becoming wedged between her bed and the wall, according to the Polk County Medical Examiner.

Gregory Schmunk, the county medical examiner, said Friday that the cause of death of a deceased 7-month-old from Ankeny was likely "positional asphyxia" and that the infant tested positive for cocaine metabolite, a breakdown product of cocaine.

The child's mother, Michelle Atwell, 33, was arrested Wednesday and charged with child endangerment causing substantial risk, narcotics possession with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and several other drug charges.

Atwell was also in possession of hydrocodone, tramadol with the intent to sell them.

Matthew Cohara, 48, the father, was charged with child endangerment causing no injury, and possession of marijuana and cocaine, according to jail records.

They were both charged with child endangerment after it was determined they "knowingly and unlawfully" acted in a manner that put their baby at risk, according to criminal complaints.

On Aug. 26, Ankeny police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Southwest Lesina Lane regarding a 7-month-old infant who was not breathing. The baby girl was brought to the local hospital around 10 a.m., according to court records.

When officers went inside the home, they said they noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana.

At around 10:30 a.m., officers learned the baby had been pronounced dead at the hospital.

A detective spoke with Cohara, who admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking two beers on Aug. 25 while watching a football game, according to court documents.

Atwell told officers she drank two bottles of Miller Light, smoked marijuana out of an apple and did a line and a half of cocaine in their bathroom around 7 p.m. on Aug. 25, according to court documents.

Before she went to bed, she told officers she used a breast pump to "pump and dump," according to court documents. She then went to sleep around 1 a.m.

Around 4:30 a.m., Atwell heard her daughter crying and woke up to nurse her. After her daughter fell asleep, she returned to her bedroom, according to court documents.

Schmunk said cocaine can be transmitted between baby and mother via breastmilk, but he could not confirm how the drug got into the child's system or when.

At 9:30 a.m., Cohara asked Atwell where their daughter was. Atwell ran toward the twin bed the baby was left on and saw that only the top of her head was visible and she was wedged between a wall and the mattress.

Atwell pulled the baby out and started performing CPR and told Cohara to call 911.

On Thursday, Cohara said their daughter's death was an accident and that their family is trying to cope.

"It’s definitely a tragic accident, and none of the kids were there at the time, which was fortunate," Cohara said.

He said they are both planning on getting lawyers to defend themselves against the charges.

He declined to comment on the drug charges.

"It was just a terrible accident, and one thing didn’t have anything to do with the other," Cohara said.

Atwell was released from Polk County Jail on a $24,000 bond, and Cohara was released on a $2,000 bond.