Mother Charged With Infant’s Murder 15 Years Later

A woman now living in Georgia has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of a Rocky Comfort infant in 2001.

According to McDonald County Sheriff Michael Hall, the case sat stagnant for 15 years until new testimonies were recently brought to light.

Reports indicate that Jessica Rose Newhard knowingly caused the death of a 1-year-old female by violently shaking and physically abusing the child on Sept. 18, 2001.

These actions resulted in

various injuries including blunt cranial trauma, bilateral subdural hematomas, and retinal and optic nerve hemorrhages.

At the time of the infant’s death, Newhard and the child were alone at the Newhard residence at 260 Route E. Newhard’s husband, Kevin, was at his place of employment at the time.

After inflicting injury upon the child, Newhard called her husband and reported that the child was having a seizure, according to a probable cause affidavit. He rushed home to find the child convulsing on the floor near Newhard. Kevin immediately called emergency services.

The child was transported to a hospital but died five days later as a result of her injuries.

On Sept. 25, 2001, Pathologist Dr. James William Spindler of Springfield, Mo., conducted an autopsy and determined the child’s manner of death to be homicide from “non-accidental trauma.”

Newhard is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial conference at 10 a.m. Oct. 31.

Second-degree murder is a class A felony. Sentences are based on the circumstances of the crime. At most, second degree murder can result in life in prison.