Baby dies after he’s laid face down to stop crying, NE officials say. Mom sentenced
A Nebraska woman was sentenced in two separate cases after officials say her 4-month-old baby died at the hands of her boyfriend.
Both she and the boyfriend also were accused in a sex assault case involving a teenager, authorities said.
Ashlen Zitel, 28, was sentenced to six years of probation and 120 days in jail, to be served 30 days at a time between 2027 and 2030, with the opportunity to have it waived, according to KOLN.
The sentence stems from charges of child abuse and sexual assault in two separate cases, the outlet reported.
According to court documents, Zitel’s 4-month-old son died Aug. 15, at the hands of her boyfriend, Austin Meyn, KLKN reported.
Attorney information for Meyn was not available.
While Zitel was at work, Meyn laid the swaddled baby face down on a mattress to get him to stop crying, text messages revealed, according to KOLN. A text from Zitel said he didn’t need to roll the baby back over, the news outlet reported.
“She is well aware that choices that she made led to harm being suffered in both these cases,” her attorney Lee Timan said, according to KNEN. “Did she make a poor choice in trusting another individual to care for her child? Yes, I think she recognizes that. Did she necessarily know the full extent of that at the time? No.”
Timan declined McClatchy News’ request for further comment.
In a separate case, Zitel is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old alongside Meyn, KLKN reported.
Meyn pleaded not guilty to intentional child abuse resulting in death, first-degree sexual assault of a child and intentional child abuse with no injury, the outlet reported. He’s due back in court May 6.
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Baby dies after he’s laid face down to stop crying, NE officials say. Mom sentenced."
