Parents arrested in death of toddler on Christmas Day

Parents arrested in death of toddler on Christmas Day

Parents arrested in death of toddler on Christmas Day

Two people have been arrested after a 1-year-old child died on Christmas Day after being found not breathing by St. Paul officials.

Police say that officers responded to the 1000 block of 5th Street East at around 1:30 p.m. for a 1-year-old child not breathing.

The child was brought to the hospital, where authorities say they later passed away.

Kenneth Grimes, a neighbor, watched his normally quiet street in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood become chaotic on Christmas.

“You had the fire department down there, police, ambulance; they had it all blocked off,” Grimes said.

St. Paul police later said narcotics may have played a role in the child’s death. Police added that 38-year-old Jeffrey Weidell and 31-year-old Jasmine Ryan were arrested on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter.

The couple have yet to be formally charged.

Weidell’s criminal history dates back almost 20 years, with convictions ranging from burglary to escaping custody, and Ryan has had five DWIs. Court records show the couple has also filed multiple restraining orders against each other as recently as this spring.

The investigation is still ongoing. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.