An Aurora woman who allegedly twice killed infant sons by sleeping in the same bed with them has been convicted of child abuse in the death of one and faces a trial in the death of the second.
Tierra Collins, 29, was convicted Friday of misdemeanor child abuse stemming from the June 29, 2016, death of her 3-month-old son, Nazairean Newton. She faces sentencing on March 9 for the baby’s death, which happened when she was drunk and high on drugs.
Collins’ 6-month old son Azyian Newton died in an almost identical way in July of 2014, according to a news release by Vikki Migoya, spokeswoman for Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler.
Autopsies couldn’t determine the cause of death for either infant, but noted that an unsafe sleep environment could have been a contributing factor because both children slept with their parents, said Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office autopsy technician Candace Bretsch.
Collins had been warned about the practice, according to a police affidavit, when she went through a program that teaches women how to engage in good preventive health care in pregnancy and provide responsible care for their children.
Sharing a bed with a baby can result in injury or death if someone rolls onto them. They can also suffocate if they are covered by pillows, blankets or lie face down on the soft surface.
Judge John Scipione allowed evidence of the first death to be used at the trial.
“Parenting is one the most important responsibilities you’ll ever have. It requires you to make sacrifices, requires you change your behavior, and requires you to put someone other than yourself first,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Ferrin, who prosecuted the case. “Sadly, Tierra Collins was unwilling to do these things, and as a result she put her son’s life at risk.”
Getting drunk and high in someone’s home may be a reality for some adults, but when that conduct puts a baby at risk, it is a crime, she said.
“The right and ability to have children comes with the obligation to protect them from harm. Here, Collins put her interest in drugs and alcohol above her duty to her baby,” Ferrin said in a statement.
Collins is scheduled to stand trial for Azyian’s death on May 30. Newton, who is the father of both children, is scheduled for trial on Feb. 28 on a misdemeanor child abuse charge in Nazairean’s death.
