Angwin mother charged with involuntary manslaughter

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May death of baby left in car spurs criminal case

Saturday, August 25, 2007

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By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

The mother of a 10-month-old baby who died after being left for about six hours in the back seat of the family vehicle has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

After more than three months of investigation, the Napa County District Attorney’s Office filed the felony charge against Haley Sheri Wesley, 27, of Angwin.

On Thursday, Wesley went to the county jail where she was booked, according to Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein. She was released on her own recognizance. Wesley is to appear in court on Oct. 30 for arraignment. The maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter is four years in state prison.

Lieberstein said one of the reasons for the long period of time Between the incident and the filing of the criminal case was that investigators were waiting for the results of toxicology tests from the baby and Wesley.

“The test results are just part of all the information we needed to decide whether to file charges, if we did, what charges would be appropriate,” Lieberstein said.

Lieberstein declined to comment on the specifics of the report.

Authorities have said previously there is no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved, or that the baby had been neglected in the past.

The victim, Maddison Wesley, was found dead, secured in her child safety seat in the back seat of the family’s Honda on May 18. The car was parked in front of the family’s home on College Avenue in Angwin.

Wesley, along with her daughter, had left Angwin that morning to visit friends in Napa. Realizing she would be late for her job at Pacific Union College in Angwin, Wesley put Maddison in the back seat of the Honda and headed for work, arriving at PUC around 9 a.m.

Because she was late for work, she worked through her lunch hour and left PUC around 3 p.m., and drove home, police said. After being in the house for a short time, she left — thinking it was time to pick up her daughter at day care — and found the child unresponsive in the back seat.

Wesley took Maddison into the house, started CPR and called 911. Neighbors called Wesley’s husband at work. The baby was taken to St. Helena where she was pronounced dead.

14 comment(s)

A MOMMY wrote on Aug 25, 2007 2:51 AM:

" READING THIS STILL GIVES ME THE CHILLS. I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN GO ALL DAY LONG AND NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR BABY. I PRAY THE FAMILY CAN WORK THROUGH THINGS TOGETHER. "

Russell wrote on Aug 25, 2007 6:48 AM:

" The only thing I have to say I beleive this Mother suffer enough. Just losing her child is enough punishment. I feel sending her to prison doesnt justify anything. I would hate to live with that guilt the rest of my life. Right now she needs help getting through the ordeal ... 4 years come on .... "

Steph wrote on Aug 25, 2007 7:43 AM:

" The only sentence this poor woman deserves is a stint with counseling. She's paid the ultimate price for her tragic mistake and been "disciplined" with natural consequences--a guilt and pain she will always carry. Yes, the baby suffered, and I'm sure this mother is tortured daily or by the minute with the knowledge and imagined details. This woman needs psychiatric evaluation, but I have little doubt that she poses a continued threat to society. Lord, have mercy. We all make mistakes. Next time you drive too fast or with a cell phone, think about it. "

calisa wrote on Aug 25, 2007 9:07 AM:

" as sad as this story is, and it the worst imaginable thing for a parent, to be responsible for the death of your child, the DA in my mind has done the right thing by filing charges. If it had been "anyone else", the sitter, the nanny, a neighbor, you can bet they would be facing charges as well, so being the parent does not excuse you from being accountable. I understand it was an accident, and I can actually understand how it could happen, but the fact is, a child died due to negligence. I am sorry for the mother, and for the family, I could not begin to imagine the pain this has caused,but more importantly I am sorry for Madddison who lost her little life and will never get the chance to run and play and be the litle light in everyones eyes. "

calisa wrote on Aug 25, 2007 9:18 AM:

" OH I forgot to add, that I do not however believe that this mother should do "hard time" in a state prison, but I do believe it was correct in charging her. She will live in her own "prison" for the rest of her days, and granted that does not bring her daughter back, what purpose would it serve for her to go to jail. Perhaps a short stint in the county and the opportunity to provide some service to the community would be appropriate in this case, in my opinion anyways. "

confused! wrote on Aug 25, 2007 10:44 AM:

" Everytime I read this story I am so confused. Question? Why would anyone who lives in Angwin and works there and needed to be at work at 9AM, go to Napa early to visit friends? That makes no sense. And so the baby was soooo quiet that she forgot the baby was buckled in the back seat? Huh this is crazy! "

Hmm?? wrote on Aug 25, 2007 12:07 PM:

" This is an unfortunate tragedy, however, it is also the result of a parent's serious negligence. As the mother of 2 small children, I cant ever imagine forgetting that they are in the car with me. Surely, the ultimate penalty she faces is living with this guilt for the rest of her life. That aside, because of one parent's failure to use good judgment (ie: how smart was it to drive all the way from Anguin to Napa before work, just to have to turn right around and cause yourself to be so late and stressed that you forget your child is in the car?), an innocent child has lost her life, and a father lost his daughter. I think the Register was totally just in printing her name and that the courts should serve justice as well. After all, without consequences, lessons are not learned. She should not be given special treatment out of sympathy, yes she will suffer for the rest of her life with guilt. But lets not forget, because of this carelessness, a child is dead. "

To Hmm?? wrote on Aug 25, 2007 12:59 PM:

" You said it well. Kudos to the DA for bringing charges. While this mother is forgiven for her action by God, her husband and her family, she still needs to answer for it legally. There is no justification for having forgotten that child in the car. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:12 PM:

" It's horrible that this tragedy occurred, but I think the mother has been punished enough by losing her child. "

In prayer wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:27 PM:

" First of all, put aside your hypocrisy and judgmental views. Everyone has been forgetful at some time and fortunately with little to no consequence: be it driving with a BAC above the legal limit, speeding, or idling your car for a "second" while you ran inside to get something you forgot with child in tow. Don't you think the Angwin mother respects the judicial process and is willing to accept whatever punishment deemed appropriate? Even serving jail time would not erase her memory, nor dim the consequence of her actions. She would probably and willingly give of her own life without hesitation to reverse what has occurred. Let's be a community who rallies around and holds the family in prayer. God bless us all, everyone. Remember: Let him without sin cast the first stone... "

Callous wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:52 PM:

" Sorry, but I'd rather see violent criminals filling our overcrowded prisons than a mother who made the mistake of her life; a mistake she no doubt thinks about every day and has nighmares about every night. The gut-wrenching knowledge that she was responsible for her child's horrible death is a punishment far worse than what the state could impose on her. Who, exactly, benefits from her spending years in prison? It doesn't bring her daughter back, it separates her from her husband at a time they both need support, it certainly doesn't punish her any more than the hell she's living in now, and it doesn't benefit society by making our community any safer. The real question here is why is it, really, that some people would actually feel better if this young woman goes off to prison. Have we really become that callous? "

To Everyone wrote on Aug 25, 2007 7:47 PM:

" No one ever said that this mom will go to prison. The DA only noted that 4 years in state prison is the MAXIMUM penalty. The minimum penaltly is likely community service and probation. If I were in Haley's place, I would be so numb and grief-stricken that you could put me in prison for life and I would still be punishing myself far worse. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this sad situation. "

Bad mothers wrote on Aug 27, 2007 2:11 PM:

" This is crazy. what kind of Mother leaves their child in the car and forgets that they are there. Her head is not in the right place! If she is that oblivious and careless to have done such a thing, she deserves to be punished more, and shouldn't have kids. "

Compassion please? wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:39 PM:

" To A MOMMY, Confused, Hmm, Bad Mothers, and others who have harshly judged this poor woman. I hope something like this never happens to you or anyone you know, but if it does, I hope that people show you/them a lot more respect, love and prayers than you have shown. It's apparent to authorities, family and friends that this was a horrible and tragic mistake that could happen to anyone in a similar situation. Do you think that anyone who this has happened to intend for it to happen? Maybe you're watching too much CSI. But those of us who are close to this tragedy are sickened by your comments and know that it helps no one. I will not only continue to pray for this family, but for the understanding and compassion of others who hear of this tragedy. "

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