"Infant John Doe" - 16 Months/ Accused: Dennis Angell - Santiago (NW of Minneapolis) MN

A 24-year-old man took the Winnie the Pooh pillow of his girlfriend's fussing 16-month-old boy and suffocated him with it, according to charges filed Wednesday in Sherburne County.Dennis James Angell, who lived in the boy's home in Santiago Township with the child's mother and other family members, was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death at the home on Oct. 31. Angell was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail."Angell initially told investigators that he was the last person to be with the child and that the child started choking while in his care," said County Sheriff Joel Brott. "Eventually, Angell admitted to investigators that he placed a pillow on the child's face."According to the complaint:Angell said he was trying to get the boy to sleep but became angry when he fussed. He said he pressed the pillow down with both hands against the child's face for about 40 seconds in an effort to muffle his screams. He said he let up when the boy stopped moving.Deputies arrived at the home about 9:30 p.m. and found a woman and a Becker Fire and Rescue crew member trying to revive the boy. The child was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and declared dead.A search of the home turned up the pillow, bloodied, under the child's bed. The boy bled from the nose before resuscitation efforts were started, adults in the home said.

Clear Lake-area man pleads guilty in death of smothered 16-month-old boy


Jun. 10, 2011
A Clear Lake-area man pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder involving the death of a toddler in November at a Santiago Township residence.
Dennis James Angell, 25, pleaded guilty to what commonly is called felony murder and also agreed to a sentence of 15 years in prison. The crime to which he pleaded guilty carried a potential sentence that ranged from a minimum of just more than 10 years to a maximum of 15 years, according to State Sentencing Guidelines. Angell agreed to a sentence at the high end of the range.
In return, Sherburne County prosecutors agreed to drop a motion that would have asked the judge to sentence Angell to a term longer than called for in the sentencing guidelines, said Sam Wertheimer, chief deputy county attorney.
A charge of first-degree manslaughter was dismissed. Angell was ordered held without bail pending sentencing, which has been scheduled for July 14 in front of Sherburne County District Court Judge Thomas Hayes.
Angell pleaded guilty to causing the death of his girlfriend’s 16-month-old son. The boy was choking and not breathing when Sherburne County deputies responded to a home in the 14100 block of 39th Street in Santiago Township.
The toddler was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
During a search of the home, investigators took a blanket, pillow and a bib from the child’s bed, according to court documents. The pillow had human blood on it.
Adults on scene told investigators there was blood coming from the child’s nose before they began resuscitation, according to documents.
Investigators spoke with Angell, who told them he was the last person with the child and the child started choking while in his care, according to court records. Eventually, Angell admitted that he put a pillow on the child’s face.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and found the probable cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering of the child and the probable manner of death was homicide.
The medical examiner noted there were a number of injuries to the child consistent with the child being smothered.

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110610/NEWS01/106090058/Clear-Lake-area-man-pleads-guilty-death-smothered-16-month-old-boy