Tragedy after Minnesota father, 26, left his baby son to sleep under weighted blanket for five hours
A Minnesota father allegedly left his ten–month–old son under a weighted blanket for hours while he was locked away in another room, leading to the infant's tragic death.
Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his son, Remington Tristan Morningstar, last October 1, according to the Mankato Police Department.
When police officers arrived at his home in the 500 block of James Avenue in Mankato, about 90 miles south of Minneapolis, Morningstar told them he had 'a practically dead baby.'
Morningstar laid his son face down for a nap before noon and covered him with a 20–pound weighted blanket up to his shoulders, according to a complaint filed in Blue Earth County District Court on Tuesday viewed by the Daily Mail.
Morningstar did not check on the baby again until nearly five hours later, when he found the infant unresponsive and 'very warm,' with a temperature of 104.7 degrees.
'I'm thinking in my head like, five hours,' Morningstar told police, according to the complaint. 'Huh. I really do wish I would have checked on him.'
Morningstar added that he 'did not understand' how his son's temperature had risen, as he attempted to explain what happened to his baby son.
The 26-year-old father added Remington's temperature 'was only 105, but you know what's interesting, [he] exhibits the same symptoms as someone [who] was 108.'
Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his 10-month-old son Remington Tristan Morningstar last October (pictured)
Remington (pictured) was 'not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared cyanotic' when first responders arrived. He was declared dead at 4.54pm
Morningstar allegedly told investigators that his son (far right) woke up 'perfectly healthy' and that he placed him in the bed with the weighted blanket before leaving to his own room
Morningstar has been charged with second degree manslaughter, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.
During the investigation, Morningstar told officers that he was autistic.
His son Remington was 'not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared cyanotic' when first responders arrived, the complaint read.
The baby's lips were purple and blue, and his arms appeared pale and wrinkled. Remington was declared dead at 4.54pm.
Morningstar told police his son had been 'perfectly healthy' that morning after waking up around 9am and being fed a bottle.
However, after placing him in bed and covering him with a weighted blanket, Morningstar never returned to check on his son until right before he called 911.
Morningstar allegedly told police he had gone to his own bedroom, leaving the baby's door open but shutting his own to work 'on Discord and talking to friends.' Morningstar admitted he was wearing headphones, but claimed he could hear his surroundings.
Remington also told police that he was autistic, according to a complaint filed in Blue Earth County District Court on Tuesday
Morningstar has been charged with second degree manslaughter and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to court documents
Remington had a 'history of getting fevers,' according to his father, who described him as a colicky baby
Morningstar told police and first responders that he had 'a practically dead baby' when they arrived at his home in the 500 block of James Avenue in Mankato
Remington's mother, Isabella Morningstar, told investigators she had found their son overheated under a king–sized blanket about a month before his death.
The baby's dad admitted that he had forgotten about Remington while playing videogames, according to the complaint.
Morningstar allegedly acknowledged that he regularly covered Remington's head with blankets to 'help' deal with his son's screaming.
Isabella also told officers that the couple had used weighted blankets on Remington, the complaint said.
She reiterated that Morningstar had 'covered [Remington] with a comforter to muffle the sound of crying.'
Police found multiple blankets on the bed that Remington was placed in, including multiple weighted blankets weighing just under 20 pounds, as well as large comforters.
Morningstar told officers that Remington had a 'history of getting fevers' and that he struggled to keep his temperature in check.
He allegedly added that Remington had been taken to the hospital 'quite a bit,' describing him as a colicky baby.
Morningstar allegedly laid his son face down for a nap around 11am, covered him with a 20–pound weighted blanket up to his shoulders and didn't check on him until almost 4pm
Remington's mom, Isabella Morningstar, told police that she had also found her baby son overheated under a blanket roughly one month before his death
Isabella also allegedly told investigators that Remington acknowledged he had forgotten about Remington as he played videogames
Morningstar claimed that he used the weighted blankets to manage his son's colic, telling police that 'it worked every single time,' per the complaint.
However, he also explained Remington had overheated at least two other times, including one occasion when he was rushed to the hospital after his temperature spiked to 104 degrees.
'I mean, it only happened twice before,' Morningstar told police, per the complaint. 'It spiked two times and we fixed him two times.'
A public obituary for Remington said he 'entered the world as a healthy baby boy' and noted he was survived by his older sister Rosalina.
'It almost doesn't feel real,' his mom Isabella posted the day after his death. 'I keep looking for the sweet tiny world that was blessed to me but instead of being here with me he is being loved by the most high Jesus Christ.'
She added: 'Rest easy my boy my Remington forever nine months but the absolute best nine months of my life.'
Morningstar is being held in the Blue Earth County jail, according to Mankato police.
He has applied for a public defender but been deemed not financially eligible, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Mankato police, the Blue Earth County Attorney's Office, who is prosecuting Morningstar, and Isabella Morningstar for further comment.
Morningstar could not be reached for comment, as he remained in jail and information for a possible attorney was not immediately available.
