Mother Faces Criminal Neglect Charge After Nine-Month-Old Son Found Dead in Parked Van
A 31-year-old mother of six has been charged with criminal neglect following the tragic death of her nine-month-old son, who was discovered unresponsive inside a parked minivan in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Crystal Manneken was formally charged on Thursday, one day after emergency services rushed to her home on Midlow Road in Elizabeth Downs.
Neighbours Witness Desperate Scene as Parents Plead for Help
Neighbours have recounted the harrowing moments when Kohen's parents discovered their baby missing from his bedroom and later found him inside the vehicle parked in their driveway. Witnesses reported hearing Manneken's desperate pleas for her son to wake up as the couple ran door-to-door seeking assistance.
'They worked on the baby for 10 to 15 minutes before the ambulances arrived,' one neighbour told reporters. 'It's heartbreaking and I feel for the people it happened to.'
Another resident expressed their shock, stating: 'That is so horrible... I've got a grandbaby and two children of my own.'
Emergency Response and Attempted Resuscitation
Paramedics were called to the scene around 8pm on Wednesday following reports of an unresponsive infant. Neighbours who administered CPR before professional help arrived managed to restore a faint heartbeat, but Kohen could not be revived.
Jasmine Hudson described the substantial 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.'
Police Investigation and Scene Details
Photos from Thursday morning revealed a significant police presence at the Elizabeth Downs property, along with multiple emergency vehicles. Baby items including a car seat, bouncer, toilet potty, and bath were visible outside the home.
It remains unclear how long the infant had been inside the vehicle before being discovered. Manneken, who describes herself online as a stay-at-home mother, is believed to have two sons and four daughters.
Legal Proceedings and Coroner's Report
Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kohen's death, with a report being prepared for the coroner. Crystal Manneken has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear before the Elizabeth Magistrates' Court on April 14 to face the criminal neglect charge.
The Adelaide Advertiser reported that neighbours immediately began CPR after the parents discovered their son unresponsive in the van. The community remains shaken by the tragic incident that has left a family devastated and a mother facing serious legal consequences.
