Background: The Roanoke, Virginia, neighborhood where Lindsey Burnette lived with her baby (Google Maps). Inset: Lindsey Renee Burnette (Roanoke City Adult Detention Center).
A Virginia woman who reportedly told police that she woke up next to her unconscious baby now faces a murder charge.
The Roanoke Police Department on Tuesday announced the arrest of 37-year-old Lindsey Renee Burnette, who was charged with felony murder, child abuse and neglect with serious injury, and cruelty and injury to children following her arrest on Sept. 3. A grand jury indicted her on the charges the day before.
Burnette’s 2-month-old son, Aka-rri Burnette-Coleman, died on Feb. 14 after paramedics responded to a call about an unconscious baby at her home. He was pronounced dead when they arrived.
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According to police, Burnette said that she fell asleep with the baby in her bed next to her. When she awoke that morning, she told police the baby was unconscious. She called for help, and first responders arrived at around 9:30 a.m.
Police said that an investigation into Aka-rri’s death revealed that he died of “suffocation and acute methamphetamine toxicity,” per the medical examiner’s report. It was also determined that the baby died as a result of his mother rolling on top of him while she was sleeping.
Burnette, who has a long criminal history in Virginia’s Roanoke County, including several arrests for methamphetamine possession and racketeering, was taken into custody on Sept. 3 and booked into the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. She is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 6.
