St. Joseph mother charged in death of 4-year-old bedridden daughter with cerebral palsy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Prosecutors have filed charges against a St. Joseph woman in connection to the death of her 4-year-old daughter.

According to a statement from the St. Joseph Police Department, Alexandria Thurman Laureen Schurr was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Schurr’s daughter, Amber Elizabeth Mosier, was found dead in her bed at her home in the 3100 block of South 36th Place on Oct. 10.

"We were sent to check on the well-being of the child," Capt. Matt Rock said. "We found the child being unresponsive, and the child was later declared dead."

Amber had cerebral palsy, was bedridden and on a feeding tube, the police statement said.

An investigation revealed that on the day of her death, Amber had not been checked on between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:27 p.m., when she was found lifeless.

"It was indicated that the mother had heard the child vomiting, and failed to check on her, even after hearing that," Rock said.

Police documents show Amber had been left unattended for more than 20 hours.

An autopsy revealed Amber died as a result of airway obstruction caused by gastrically-delivered feeding material.

Schurr was arrested Wednesday and was being held in the Buchanan County Law Enforcement Center on $50,000 bond.