An Idaho mother has pleaded guilty to more serious felony charges in connection with the death of her 12-day-old son, Benjamin ‘Benji’ Armenta, following an unexpected turn in court proceedings that delayed her original plea agreement.

Allysen Armenta, 28, entered guilty pleas on Thursday to one count of injury to a child and two counts of destruction of evidence. She entered Alford pleas on the latter two charges, meaning she does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

The latest development came after a previous plea hearing, scheduled for July 30, was abruptly halted. Armenta had initially been expected to plead guilty to lesser charges, including failure to notify authorities and injury to a child, with other counts set to be dismissed.

However, as she began describing the circumstances surrounding her infant son’s death, the judge paused the proceedings. Attorneys were subsequently told that a legal issue required further examination, forcing the hearing to be rescheduled.

At the centre of the case is the death of little Benji on December 16, when he was just 12 days old.

According to investigators, the newborn was found to have suffocated inside a trailer where living conditions were described as extremely hazardous, with rubbish, leftover food, dirt, cigarette waste and animal faeces scattered throughout.

Authorities allege that his body was later moved to a nearby house. Rather than immediately contacting emergency services, Armenta and the baby’s father, Brian Lemke, 32, allegedly exchanged text messages after discovering that the infant had 𝖽𝗂𝖾𝖽.

The couple initially told authorities that Benji had been found unresponsive in his bassinet.

For a baby who had barely begun his life, the circumstances surrounding his final hours have left a deeply troubling picture at the heart of the investigation.

Lemke was sentenced in late July to between six and 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to failing to report a death and destroying evidence.

Court records also reveal that both parents had previous convictions involving child injuries. Other children had previously been removed from their care because of dangerous living conditions.

Now, with Armenta’s latest guilty pleas, the case has taken another significant step through the courts.

Behind the legal charges and courtroom proceedings is the story of Benji, a newborn who had only 12 days to experience the world. His short life has become the focus of a case that has raised painful questions about the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable – children who depend entirely on the adults entrusted with their care.

Source: idahonews.com