SAGINAW, MI — A month after her infant son died with an illegal drug in his system, a Saginaw mother is facing a felony child abuse charge.
About 7:30 a.m. on June 17, police and paramedics responded to a townhouse in the 100 block of Vestry Drive after 20-year-old Bria B. Fisher called 911 to say her son was not breathing. The baby, Legend Cortez Maynard, was unresponsive when first responders arrived.
Though paramedics tried resuscitating Legend, he died at the scene, confirmed Saginaw Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow.
Fisher told police she had been changing Legend’s diaper about a half-hour earlier and then tried getting him to suckle from her breast. She lay down on the couch with Legend on her chest and fell asleep, she told police.
She then awoke to Legend no longer attached to her breast and not breathing, Gerow said.
An autopsy conducted on Legend’s remains was unable to yield his cause of death, though toxicology results showed illegal narcotics in his system, Gerow said.
Authorities on July 21 issued a warrant for Fisher’s arrest and police arrested her the same day. Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman on July 22 arraigned Fisher on one count of second-degree child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Hoffman referred Fisher’s case to the Office of Assigned Counsel. Fisher is free on bond.
Legend was born March 25 at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw.
“Legend was a loving baby,” his obituary states. “He loved being held, loved on, eating, sleeping and making funny faces all day. Legend was just starting to laugh more and make baby noises. He was a happy baby. His smile would light up a whole room. With so much love and joy, Legend was perfect; he was indeed a legend!”
Fisher is to appear for a preliminary examination at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 11.
