Local News

Woman charged with suffocating infant deemed incompetent

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff | Thursday, February 28, 2008

A Pine Ridge woman charged with suffocating her 14-month-old daughter by passing out on top of her has been deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Wilberta Means, 43, is charged in U.S. District Court with second-degree murder, assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor, and abuse of a minor in connection with the Nov. 3, 2006, death of JonTay Iron Horse.

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The baby’s father, Jacob Iron Horse, pleaded guilty to abuse of a minor for his role in the child’s death and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Iron Horse admitted to drinking heavily while caring for his daughter. He passed out, waking later to find that JonTay had suffocated while lying on a couch behind her mother.

Means was scheduled for trial Feb. 26. However, court documents show that after a Feb. 21 hearing, she was found incompetent to understand the nature of the proceedings against her or to assist in her defense. She will be sent to a treatment facility. The trial can proceed if or when she is deemed competent.

Second-degree murder is punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction. The assault charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and the abuse charge a maximum of 15 years upon conviction.

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