Police to Seek Charges in Infant’s Death: Baby Needed Medical Attention, Deputies Say

By Gary Grado, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Dec. 23–An east Mesa infant who lived in squalor died Sept. 11 from natural causes, but her caretaker could still face criminal charges.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office found that 5-month-old Makayla Johnson had a soft tissue infection that could have developed from any number of sources, according to an autopsy report released Tuesday.

“The child died because she had this infection and she did not receive the medical care she needed,” said Capt. Paul Chagolla, spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Chagolla said the infection could have been treated. Detectives are working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to determine what charges to file.

When a child isn’t cared for, the charges can include neglect, endangerment or child abuse.

“We will be seeking charges,” Chagolla said.

The county attorney’s office has final say on whether to indict.

Deputies were called to 211 N. 96th St. at 3 a.m. on Sept. 11. They found Bonnie Bennett, 52, crying hysterically as paramedics worked to resuscitate Makayla.

Makayla’s mother, Laura Jones, left Makayla and her 2-year-old brother with Bennett when Jones went to prison a few weeks before the death.

Bennett was also caring for a 22-month-old girl whose mother was in prison.

According to a Mesa police report from 2005 and previous interviews with those who know Bennett, she often cared for children whose mothers were in jail or down on their luck.

Deputies described the home as messy throughout with trails cutting through it for walking. It had no air conditioning and was infested with ants.

Pit bull terriers ran freely on the property, and the three other adults living in the home had police and court records for drug use.

Bennett told investigators the child vomited at 11 p.m. the night before her death, but she was fine and giggling and gurgling after a feeding.

Bennett fell asleep with the baby in her arms and woke up about 2:30 a.m. to find Makayla not breathing.

“Bonnie stated that the baby had a bug bite or sting to her upper chest, and that they were treating it with ‘black sap’ to draw out the toxins,” the sheriff’s report stated.

The autopsy found that the skin on her chest had lesions, decaying tissue, was chronically inflamed and filled with bacteria. Her larynx also had lesions and decaying tissue.

Bennett said she couldn’t get state health coverage for the children because Jones didn’t grant her power of attorney or legal guardianship.

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