Foster mother indicted in infant’s death

A Jackson County foster mother has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct after an infant in her care died when left in a van, officials said Wednesday.

District Attorney Richard Bridgeman said a grand jury indicted Wendy Osborne, 29, on Monday in connection with the death of Jessica Scovil.

On Sept. 2, Osborne, a state-appointed foster mother, failed to realize she left Jessica in her van, according to a police report. It was a day when temperatures reached 85 degrees. Two hours passed before Osborne checked her burgundy Dodge Caravan.

Jessica, one day short of 9 months old, died in her car seat. Her body temperature reached 108 degrees, according to a report by police in Jackson County, about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta.

The indictment on the charge of involuntary manslaughter said that Osborne “did cause the death of Jessica Scovil … without any intention to do so.”

The indictment on the charge of reckless conduct said Osborne endangered the baby by “disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk,” which was a “gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in that situation.”

Involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Reckless conduct carries up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000.

Robert Scovil, the girl’s father, said he was satisfied.

“She made a mistake, and she’s going to have to pay for her mistake,” Scovil said. “We’re going to have some justice for Jessica.”

Osborne had been Jessica’s foster mother for about five months.

“We don’t believe she was guilty of any criminal conduct,” said her attorney, Phil Pilgrim. “She thought of Jessica as a child of her own. This is a very difficult situation, and she’s dealing with it every day.”

The arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 11.