Left: Amber Winstead. Right: Ki'Arri Rayne Winstead (Amber Winstead/Facebook).
A Kentucky woman may be headed to prison after she took a bath with her 3-month-old son on New Year's Day while apparently under the influence of drugs and fell asleep, causing the boy to drown.
Amber Winstead, 36, pleaded guilty Friday to manslaughter in the death of Ki'Arri Rayne Winstead, who was found dead at a motel in Louisville on Jan. 1. Prosecutors have requested that she serve seven years behind bars, according to local ABC affiliate WHAS. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 11.
Cops responded to a Motel 6 on Airport Hotel Boulevard around 4:30 a.m. where they found an unresponsive baby. They later learned Winstead got into the bath with the boy and fell asleep. Hours later, someone woke up Winstead. Ki'Arri was submerged in the water and not breathing. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
As part of the plea agreement, a persistent felony offender charge was dropped, according to local Fox affiliate WDRB.
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Winstead was arrested in the funeral home parking lot, moments before her son was laid to rest, her attorney said. Bryce Dean said his client would like to be on house arrest before she is sentenced.
"She would like to visit her child's grave. She would like to have just a little bit of closure before she goes to DOC," Dean said, per CBS affiliate WLKY.
Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Trish Morris said she would consider the request, saying she has "obvious empathy" for the defendant.
"The situation is tragic all around," the judge reportedly said.
Ki'Arri's obituary said he was born to his "loving mother" on Sept. 24, 2024.
"Ki'Arri was a little angel, a miracle baby whose bubbly personality and infectious joy lit up every room he entered. He was a precious bundle of happiness, always calm and content, bringing peace to those around him. He never cried, and his gentle, happy demeanor made him a perfect little guy who was loved deeply by his family," the obituary said.
