Adelaide Mother Faces Charges After Infant Found Dead in Family Minivan
A young mother has described the devastating moment she attempted to save a nine-month-old boy discovered lifeless inside a minivan in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Emergency services were urgently dispatched to a residence on Midlow Road in Elizabeth Downs around 8pm last Wednesday following distressing reports that baby Kohen had been found unresponsive.
Panicked Discovery and Frantic Rescue Attempts
Neighbours reported that Kohen's parents entered a state of panic when they checked his bedroom and found it empty. The infant was subsequently located inside a minivan parked in the driveway, though authorities have not determined how long the nine-month-old had been inside the vehicle.
In footage shared by 7News on Friday, Kohen's father could be heard screaming desperately: 'Does anyone know CPR? Help, help help!' Ebony Baxter, who possesses training in infant CPR, rushed to assist when she heard the father's cries as he ran down the street carrying Kohen in his arms.
'He went to go and kiss the little boy goodnight and that's when he realised he wasn't in bed,' Ms Baxter recounted, explaining that she immediately began attempting to revive the infant on the footpath. 'You know, his face, I can't stop seeing the way he looked. As I was doing it, just come on, like, I just wanted to see him take a breath. I wish that we could have, anyone else, like anyone there, we could have done more to help him.'
Medical Efforts Prove Unsuccessful
Despite the determined efforts by Ms Baxter and subsequent paramedics - including a brief return of a weak pulse - Kohen could not be revived. His mother, 31-year-old Crystal Manneken, was formally charged with criminal neglect the following day.
Photographs from the scene on Thursday morning revealed a substantial police presence at the home, accompanied by multiple ambulances and a fire truck. Baby items including a car seat, bouncer, toilet potty, and bath were observed scattered outside the residence.
Community Reaction and Official Response
Manneken, who describes herself online as a stay-at-home mother believed to have two sons and four daughters, has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates' Court on April 14. A comprehensive report will be prepared for the coroner as detectives continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the infant's tragic death.
The Elizabeth Downs community has been profoundly shaken by Kohen's death. When questioned by media regarding whether welfare checks had been conducted at the home or if reports concerning the child had been received, a Department for Child Protection spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation.
'The death of this little boy is a tragedy for his family, community, and all who knew him,' the spokeswoman stated. Former South Australian Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras, now an independent candidate, emphasized that the death raises serious questions about child welfare systems.
Local witness Jasmine Hudson described the extensive emergency response to the ABC: 'There was one big ambulance and three or four four-wheel-drive ambulances and a fire truck and about six police cars.' Another neighbour expressed profound sympathy: 'That is so horrible... I've got a grandbaby and two children of my own.'
