A Chelsea, Massachusetts, mother is in custody in connection with the death of her infant son after prosecutors say he died while she was out drinking.
Jennifer Prudencio25, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment in the death of her 3-year-old son. She pleaded not guilty to the charges when she appeared in court last Wednesday, CBS News reported.
Prosecutor Audrey Mark said that Prudencio’s son, Yael Guardado-Prudenciohad a medical history of seizures and hemophilia, and was sick vomiting blood in the week before his death.
Mark said that on Saturday, April 6 Yael vomited again and suffered an untreated head injury from a fallbut his mother left him in the care of his older brothers, ages 7 and 8, while she went out partying.
The prosecutor added that Prudencio went drinking at a bar in Revere and then spent the night at her boyfriend’s house in Somerville. During that time, his 8-year-old son texted him worried about Yael and sent him a video of the sick child. Prudencio responded that he would return home soon.
“The defendant also admitted that during the night she received a video and a text message from her 8-year-old son expressing concern for the alleged victim’s well-being, and despite that she decided to stay outside all night,” Mark said.
When Prudencio returned to his Spencer Avenue apartment Sunday morning around 10 a.m., Yael was dead.
“A terrible tragedy”
Prudencio’s attorney, Peter Lemire, called the boy’s death a “terrible tragedy” and said the mother is very distraught.
He added that there was no prior involvement from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) with the family, and that his client is cooperating with police.
Prudencio is due back in court on May 2 for a probable cause hearing. She was ordered to stay away from children under 16 and wear a GPS monitoring bracelet if she posts $100,000 bail. Her two oldest children are now in DCF custody.
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