TRISTAN CLARK - 2 Months - Lufkin TX

Vanessa Clark of Lufkin, Texas, has been found guilty of child endangerment, and was charged with the death of her two-month-old son Tristan Clark after prosecutors learned her first son, one-month-old Christian Clark, died in a similar way in 2009. She should have learned the first time around that sleeping with infants is dangerous!

The 33-year-old mother believed the first death was caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, while the babies sleep with her and husband, Mark Clark.
As many as 7,000 babies a year die from SIDS in the US, the single
largest killer of newborns. Infants can easily be suffocated by their
parents or by bedding and and pillows.

Vanessa has been warned by Child Protection Services about the
dangers of sleeping with infants, but since she ignored those orders,
the court reached the legal threshold of child endangerment in Texas
law. ”It may not be illegal to sleep with your child, but it is illegal
to put your child in imminent danger,” said prosecutor Dale Summa.

Her sentencing will be announced within the next six weeks.
http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/04/09/mother-kills-two-babies-in-bed/

Jury selection begins in trial of father charged in co-sleeping infant death case

Posted: Apr 23, 2012 11:06 AM CDT
Updated: Apr 23, 2012 11:47 AM CDT

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) – Jury selection is underway in the trial of Mark Clark who is charged in the 2010 death of his two month old son.

Investigators say Clark and his then-wife, Vanessa, were indicted in 2011 and charged with child endangerment. Investigators said the Clarks fell asleep with baby Tristan in their bed around 11:30. They woke up to check on the baby and he was unresponsive.

A Lufkin jury found Vanessa Clark guilty of child endangerment in baby Tristan's death earlier this month. She is currently awaiting sentencing. She faces up to 20 years in prison.

In 2009, the couple was investigated for the death of another child who died while sleeping in bed with them. An autopsy report of the first child's death said Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was the cause. No trauma was found.

Prosecutors say that first baby's death becomes relevant in this more recent child's death because the couple had undergone safe sleeping training and had been advised that co-sleeping with their infant child was not safe. Negligence now becomes an issue. Prosecutors believe 2 month old Tristan may still be alive had the couple learned from their first son's death.

Defense attorneys contend baby Tristan's death was a 'terrible accident.'

http://www.kltv.com/story/17659285/jury-selection-begins-in-trial-of-father-charged-in-2010-co-sleeping-infant-death-case