A Michigan mother already accused of killing her toddler daughter in late September is now being investigated for her infant son’s 2021 death.
In police interviews, Irene Aiyana Whitehead allegedly told police she had suffocated her daughter, Ryleigh Whitehead, by holding a plastic bag over her mouth, leading to the 2-year-old’s death on September 3, according to a statement from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.
Police were summoned to Whitehead’s Cedar Springs home on reports of a child having trouble breathing. But the child was deceased by the time they arrived.
Whitehead allegedly told police her daughter experienced some type of “breathing episode” that caused her death.
Whitehead has been charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse stemming from Ryleigh’s death inside their Cedar Springs home, the statement claims.
While talking with police after Ryleigh’s death, she brought up her 2-month-old son, Leonard Whitehead, who died on September 25, 2021, according to court documents obtained by MLive.com. At the time, medical examiners determined Leonard’s death was natural and caused by parainfluenza viral-type pneumonia.
However, Whitehead allegedly told police earlier this year that she killed Leonard, MLive.com reported.
She also allegedly told police she had “wanted to kill” Ryleigh since “right after she was born,” and told investigators she couldn’t handle being a parent or hearing her daughter’s cries.
Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young held a press conference Monday, December 8, and asked the public to call in with any information about the children or their deaths.
“Many times, these cases have to do with comparing a number of details,” LaJoye-Young said. “We are looking for tips into what we believe was the 2021 murder of Leo Whitehead.”
LaJoye-Young added: “During the course of our interview with Irene and the 2-year-old’s death, she made statements that she had indeed killed Leo as well.”
The cause of Ryleigh’s death could not be determined initially, but at the time, a Kent County medical examiner ruled that suffocation or smothering could not be excluded.
It has since been changed to homicide.
LaJoye-Young did not explain why but predicted additional charges would be filed against Whitehead.
“Maybe anything you saw that seemed inconsistent at the time,” she said. “Or if you happen to know any information about where medical information may have been sought.”
Whitehead is scheduled to appear Wednesday, December 10, for a probable cause hearing.
She remains in custody at the Kent County Jail without bond.
It was unclear Tuesday if she had been asked to enter a plea to the charges she faces.
Information on her lawyer was also unavailable at press time.
Anyone with any information surrounding the case is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at (616) 632-6100 or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
