PULASKI COUNTY (WSLS 10) – Ashley White was found guilty on all three charges of felony child abuse and neglect in the death of her 5-year-old son, Noah Thomas. Noah was found dead on March 26, 2015 in a septic tank near the family’s home after an extensive five-day search.
Judge Bradley Finch said when White went to sleep the morning Noah went missing and left him and his sister unattended, she should have known they would be in danger while she slept due to the “deplorable” conditions in the trailer.
“I believe Ashley White received a fair trial and that justice was served,” said Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Fleenor during a brief statement to media after the verdict. “Something caused Noah to fall into the septic tank. There is no evidence that Ashley White deliberately killed Noah, but her lack of supervision certainly caused his death.”
When asked about parents who may be concerned that they fall asleep while their kids are in the home and therefore charged with the crime, Fleenor said, “The home was so atrocious and the septic tank was such an obvious danger, that she had to be held accountable. It wasn’t just that she laid down to take a nap.”
White is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16.
Noah’s dad, Paul Thomas, is scheduled to go on trial March 9.
