Springfield, MO – A Missouri father has been arrested and charged after allegedly placing a pillow over his two-month-old baby’s face, claiming he only did it “for a few minutes max” to block loud music and the smell of marijuana, according to Greene County court records. The incident has led to widespread concern and outrage over child safety and parental negligence.
The Incident: Pillow Found “Wiggling” on Bed
Authorities say the case began on Monday when a witness entered a bedroom inside Miguel Simmons’ home in Springfield and noticed a pillow on the bed “wiggling.”
When the witness lifted the “regular-sized” pillow, they discovered the infant girl underneath, struggling to breathe. The pillow, described in police reports as larger than the baby, had been covering her completely. The witness immediately intervened and called authorities, fearing the baby “would not have been able to breathe” if left any longer.
Police arrived at the scene shortly afterward and spoke with the witness. During the conversation, Simmons interrupted, telling officers, “She’s fine… she’s alive… I just put the pillow over her head for a few minutes max.”
Investigation and Police Findings
According to a probable cause affidavit, Simmons told police that he had recently changed and fed his daughter before placing the pillow on her face. He claimed that he did it because he didn’t want her to hear “loud music with bad words” that was playing in another room and to protect her from the smell of marijuana smoke…