Des Moines mom charged after child left alone died on changing table

A Des Moines mom was arrested on Wednesday following a months-long investigation into the death of her child.

According to court documents, Laci Lynn Taylor, 26, of Des Moines, left her child unattended on a changing table around 7:45 a.m. on Sept. 18. When Taylor left the room, her child rolled over, resulting in her neck being compressed on the ledge of the changing table. The child's airway was cut off, resulting in her death.

The court document said Taylor was aware her child was capable of rolling over at the time. Her death occurred at 810 E. Lacona Ave.

The child was unattended for at least 15 minutes, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman for the Des Moines police. He said accidents happen, but the act was severe enough that it warranted a criminal charge.

"This was something that could have been predicted and prevented if the child was attended to," Parizek said. "She didn’t have any intent to kill her child, but there was such a significant failure in parenting that it resulted in this child’s death."

Taylor was charged with child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony. The maximum penalty for the charge is 25 years in jail.

Taylor is being held in Polk County Jail with a $100,000 bond.