CROW WING COUNTY, Minn. — A Pine River couple has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after their 10-year-old autistic daughter was found fatally trapped in an enclosed bed at their home.
Heather Lynn Cross, 49, and Darcy Ronald Cross, 57, were arrested Sept. 17 in connection with the death of their daughter Cecilia. Both remain jailed on $100,000 bail, with court appearances set for Oct. 1. They also face a gross misdemeanor charge of contributing to a child’s need for protective services.
Deputies responding to the Crosses’ rural home last month discovered Cecilia unresponsive in her bed, which had a metal frame and mesh enclosure. The frame had shifted, pinning her neck. Investigators noted she had been dead for several hours before help was called.
Authorities reported the home was in squalid condition, with strong odors of urine and feces. Cecilia’s 12-year-old sister was later placed in protective custody.
Court documents say the girls were often confined in specialized safety beds meant for nighttime use, but the parents allegedly left them enclosed for long stretches of the day without supervision. Investigators determined Cecilia had been left alone for up to 12 hours on the day of her death.
The bed where Cecilia died had been improperly maintained, with broken metal poles that were never repaired despite offers from the manufacturer, according to investigators. A doctor who prescribed the beds said their daytime use was a “complete misuse of the equipment.”
If convicted, Heather and Darcy Cross each face up to 10 years in prison.
