By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A 28-year-old Wausau woman is expected to face charges connected to a suspected homicide of a 2-month-old infant boy who died after being in her care, police said.
Marissa M. Tietsort could appear in Marathon County Circuit Court as early as Monday afternoon, police said. She is already in custody on unrelated charges of child abuse, with an initial appearance set for 2 p.m. today.
Emergency crews were called at about 9:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 to the Northway Coin Laundry in the 900 block of N. Third Avenue in Wausau for a report of a baby who was unresponsive. Police say the infant’s mother had just returned from picking the baby up from Tietsort’s residence, in the 3600 block of N. Sixth Street in Wausau. When the mother went to remove the infant from his car seat, she discovered him unresponsive and called 911.
The baby boy was declared dead at the scene. Police say preliminary information led investigators to believe the child had died while in Tietsort’s care.
At about 4:15 a.m., police located Tietsort at The Plaza Hotel on 17 Avenue. She was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for a child abuse charge in a separate, unrelated case, and remains in the Marathon County Jail
Based on autopsy results from Friday, the case is being investigated as a homicide. Police have not said how the child died and have not released the name of the victim or his mother.
Charges against Tietsort are expected to be forwarded to the Marathon County District Attorney upon completion of the investigation, which is ongoing. Additional details are expected soon.
A search of court records show Tietsort has a criminal history dating back to 2013, with past convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, possession of controlled substances, resisting or obstructing an officer and bail jumping. In addition, a child abuse restraining order was filed against Tietsort in June 2010.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the infant’s family,” said Wausau Police Capt. Ben Graham, in a prepared statement to the media.
