Ankeny dad pleads guilty after baby died of asphyxia

An Ankeny man whose baby died of asphyxia after becoming wedged between her bed and the wall has pleaded guilty to child endangerment, according to court records.

Matthew Cohara, 48, and Michelle Atwell, 33, of Ankeny, were arrested after their 7-month-old daughter died of "positional asphyxia," according to the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office. The infant also tested positive for cocaine metabolite, a breakdown product of cocaine. 

Cohara was charged with child endangerment causing no injury, and possession of marijuana and cocaine. He pleaded guilty to all three charges and using drugs in the presence of his infant child.

In his plea agreement, Cohara would be required to attend substance abuse evaluation and treatment. Cohara may also get deferred judgment.

Atwell was charged with charged with child endangerment causing substantial risk, narcotics possession with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and several other drug charges. Her trial is scheduled for April 30.

On Aug. 26, 2017, Ankeny police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Southwest Lesina Lane regarding their infant who was not breathing. Their daughter was brought to the local hospital around 10 a.m, according to court records.

When officers went inside the home, they said they noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana.

A detective spoke with Cohara, who admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking two beers on Aug. 25 while watching a football game, according to court documents.

Atwell told officers she drank two bottles of beer, smoked marijuana out of an apple and did a line and a half of cocaine in their bathroom around 7 p.m. Aug. 25, according to court documents.

Before she went to bed, she told officers she used a breast pump to "pump and dump," according to court documents. She then went to sleep around 1 a.m.

Around 4:30 a.m., Atwell heard her daughter crying and woke up to nurse her. After her daughter fell asleep, she returned to her bedroom, according to court documents.

At 9:30 a.m., Cohara asked Atwell where their daughter was. Atwell ran toward the twin bed the baby was left on and saw that only the top of her head was visible and she was wedged between a wall and the mattress.

Atwell pulled the baby out and started performing CPR and told Cohara to call 911.