Court records detail investigation into woman accused of killing baby in Mason County
A 42-year-old woman has been charged with murder after deputies found her in a car with a dead, 17-month-old baby in Mason County earlier this month.
Mason County deputies arrested Jamie Nicole Brown on July 1 after finding her with the dead child near East Catfish Lake Lane and Marjorie Lane in the Shelton area.
The next day, Judge Monty Cobb found probable cause for the alleged crime in Mason County Superior Court, court records show. Cobb ordered Brown be held without bail pending a competency evaluation by the state Department of Social and Health Services. That same day, Prosecuting Attorney Michael K. Dorcy charged Jamie Nicole Brown with first-degree murder.
Coroner Jaime Taylor identified the baby as Jennavieve Brown and determined she died due to ligature strangulation.
“The manner of death is classified as homicide,” Taylor said in a social media post.
The order for Jamie Nicole Brown’s competency evaluation indicates she has displayed concerning behavior since being detained.
“Ms. Brown seems to be suffering from delusional and/or psychotic beliefs; she appears unable to understand the proceedings against her or to rationally assist in her defense,” the order states.
A probable cause statement describes the investigation into Brown and the child’s death from the perspective of law enforcement.
Detectives responded to 101 E. Marjorie Lane at 6:25 p.m. July 1 after a report of an unconscious woman, identified as Brown, in a car. A witness told dispatch that her husband woke Brown.
Brown reportedly said, “the baby is dead” and then drove away at a high speed.
The witness told dispatch that Brown almost hit responding firefighters with her vehicle as she approached East Marjorie Lane and Catfish Lane.
When deputies arrived, they spotted Brown’s vehicle parked on Catfish Lane with its hazard lights on. The deputies spotted a baby inside the car with blood on their clothing and a ligature around their neck.
The deputies removed Brown from the car and detained her. They then re-entered the car to remove the baby from the passenger side floorboard and start lifesaving measures.
Brown allegedly tried to bite a detective as they tried to interview her. Deputies ultimately placed her in a body restraint designed to immobilize her.
She was taken to Mason General Hospital before being booked into the Mason County jail.
Back at the scene, Coroner Taylor inspected the baby. Taylor observed several puncture wounds to the child’s chest, suggesting they were stabbed in addition to being strangled, according to the statement.
Court records indicate a review hearing for the case is scheduled for Tuesday.
