Minnesota couple charged with manslaughter after 10-year-old daughter crushed by safety bed

A Minnesota couple was charged with manslaughter on September 17 after their 10-year-old daughter Cecilia Cross died in August when she was crushed by a safety bed in their Pine River home.

Crow Wing County sheriff's deputies said first responders were called August 25 to the residence to report a deceased child who had been crushed by her bed. The surrounding scene, the affidavit notes, included a strong odor of urine and feces in the bedroom, with feces on the floor and walls and a soiled foam mattress pad. Neighbors provided accounts consistent with a chaotic, neglected environment that prompted authorities to intervene.

Crosslake Police Chief Jake Maier, the first officer to arrive, found Heather Cross frantically performing CPR on Cecilia. When Maier attempted to move the girl's legs, authorities say the limbs were stiff and the child appeared to be in rigor mortis, suggesting she had been dead for hours before the attempt at resuscitation.

According to the probable cause affidavit, investigators observed marks on Cecilia’s neck just below her chin and a deeper abrasion across her windpipe. Inside the girl’s bedroom, officers documented an overpowering odor consistent with urine and feces, along with feces on the floor and walls and a soiled foam pad for the mattress. The day Cecilia died, Heather told police she fed the girl a bottle of milk with medications between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., and that neither parent checked on her again until about 4:30 p.m., when they found her body.

The couple, who also have a 12-year-old daughter, told investigators that both girls have autism and sleep disorders that require them to sleep in safety beds described as completely confining. The beds are twin-sized frames with a wood frame rising about four to five feet above the bed, with a metal pipe frame and a mesh netting canopy surrounding the enclosure. Investigators noted the absence of other furniture in Cecilia’s room beyond the safety bed. The court document said the canopy could be bolted down, but Heather allegedly stated that it was common to change the canopy and that she had never seen the frame of the bed broken or out of place.

A review of a search warrant executed on the parents’ cell phone produced photos from August 23 showing the safety bed broken. The bottom poles for the metal cage were detached, and the bottom portion had slid partially out from the frame, leaving a gap large enough for Cecilia to exit the enclosure. Deputies ultimately rebuilt Cecilia’s bed during the investigation and observed that the welding for all four vertical poles had broken completely from the metal plates, leaving the cage unrealistically attached to the bed frame.

The court filing also describes a September 5 meeting between Crow Wing County Social Services employee Jill Yde and the couple. According to the document, Heather told social workers she could zip the bed whenever she wanted and used heightened language implying control over the device. Yde described the exchange as volatile but noted that an agreement was reached for ongoing supervision, though investigators later found additional evidence suggesting ongoing access to the bed’s locking mechanism.

The Crosses were arrested on September 17, based on what prosecutors called a cumulative body of increasingly concerning evidence. Cecilia’s 12-year-old sister was placed into protective custody, and both parents remained in custody on $100,000 bail each ahead of an October 1 court appearance. The case, which prosecutors described as ongoing, has drawn scrutiny over the use of safety beds for children with autism and sleep disorders, particularly in homes where caregiving and living conditions may be compromised.

Crow Wing County authorities noted the investigation continues to assess whether other factors contributed to Cecilia’s death and whether any additional charges may follow. The sheriff’s office and social services officials did not immediately specify whether other family members or caregivers will be questioned, or whether any state social-service protocols require revision in light of the findings.

In the broader context, the case adds to a national debate about safety devices used in homes for children with disabilities. advocates emphasize that safety devices should be implemented as part of comprehensive care plans with constant supervision and regular evaluation, while critics warn against safety devices that can restrict movement or mobility in ways that create new risks. Experts have long called for robust oversight, standard guidelines for installation and maintenance of confinement devices, and safeguards to ensure that guardians cannot bypass safety features during emergencies or moments of distress. The incident in Pine River underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and accountability in homes where vulnerable children live under specialized care requirements.

Authorities urge anyone with information about similar devices or household configurations involving at-risk children to contact local law enforcement or child protective services. As prosecutors prepare for the October 1 scheduled court appearance, further updates are anticipated as investigators continue to review medical records, device maintenance logs, and prior child welfare contacts that could illuminate the sequence of events leading to Cecilia Cross’s death.