Honeycutt charged in death of child

Manslaughter charges have formally been filed against 37-year-old Kelly Honeycutt of Marmaduke in relation to the June death of her one-year-old son, Ethan Roberts.

The charges were officially filed last week by Greene County Deputy Prosecutor Kimberley Dale. Honeycutt is scheduled to appear before a Greene County court next Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Sergeant Scott Chambers of the Marmaduke Police Department, who led the investigation, was called to Honeycutt's 103 North Fifth Street apartment in Marmaduke at 9:21 a.m. Saturday, June 28. The call came from a neighbor who advised Chambers a baby had died at the apartment.

Chambers noted upon his arrival that Honeycutt was sitting on a couch holding her son over her shoulder. Chambers was told by Honeycutt the child had drowned. He then noticed discoloration of the child's feet.

When asked when the drowning occurred, Honeycutt reportedly responded it had taken place at 9:30 a.m. the previous day. Her reasoning for not contacting authorities was that she did not want them to take her baby. Chambers reported in an affadavit that Honeycutt refused on several occasions to let him see the child.

Also of note was that Chambers reported the smell of intoxicants on Honeycutt when he entered the home. She admitted to drinking, but did not say when she began or how long she had been doing so.

Honeycutt said she had been in an argument with the child's father, Kenneth Roberts. According to Chambers, the fight occurred on Thursday, June 26, the day before the child's death. Chambers said the father had left following the argument and had not been at the home before called by authorities once they learned of the drowning.

According to reports, Honeycutt told investigators that she put the baby in the bath tub at 9:30 a.m. on June 27. With the baby in the half-full tub, she left the room for an estimated 30 minutes. When she returned, she reported that she saw the child and knew he was dead.

On the affidavit, Chambers noted Honeycutt was seen at different locations in Marmaduke during a period of time which was only hours after the baby had drowned. Witness reports listed her as visiting Bancorp South between 11 and 11:30 a.m.; the Quick Stop around 11:30 a.m. and at Kevin's Package Store around 3 p.m.

Since her arrest, Honeycutt has been held at the Greene County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

The definition of manslaughter states a person causes the death of another person under circumstances that would be murder, except that he or she causes the death under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance. It also includes instances when the person recklessly causes the death of another person.

According to Chambers, manslaughter is a Class C felony and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.