Crime & Safety

Prosecutor: Mom Was Willing in Boyfriend's Abuse of Her Baby

Jessica Lynn Howell's four-month old baby died of strangulation in December 2012.

In early May, Jordan Layfayette Prince of St. Charles was charged with first degree murder, abuse of a child and forcible sodomy. 

Now, his girlfriend and the mother of the infant, Jessica Lynn Howell of O'Fallon, is also charged in the abuse and murder of her four-month old daughter.

The St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney's office issued a press release Monday detailing the charges in the events leading to the December strangulation death of the infant.

The P.A.'s office reported that Howell had text communications in September 2012 with her boyfriend, Jordan Lafayette Prince, even though she was aware that he was a convicted sexual offender. 

Howell's texts indicated her willingness to allow Prince to engage in sexual activity with her infant daughter. On Dec. 2, 2012, she took the infant to Prince's home, where the child was strangled, struck and anally sodomized. 

Howell is also known by the last name of Peters. 

Howell has been charged with child abuse and second degree murder and is in custody on $1,000,000 bond.


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