10-Year-Old Autistic Girl Dies After Being Trapped Under Safety Bed, Parents Face Manslaughter Charges

A couple from Minnesota has been arrested and charged with manslaughter following the tragic death of their 10-year-old daughter with autism, who was found trapped underneath her safety bed. Authorities revealed that Darcy Cross, 57, and Heather Cross, 49, allegedly left their two autistic daughters confined to safety beds for extended periods without supervision.

The parents were taken into custody on September 17, approximately three weeks after their daughter was found dead at their Pine River, Minnesota home on August 25. When emergency services arrived at the scene, they observed Heather desperately attempting CPR on her daughter. First responders noted that the child's body displayed signs of rigor mortis, indicating she had been deceased for several hours before help was summoned.

According to investigators, the young girl was crushed by her malfunctioning safety bed after being left alone for 10-12 hours. The investigation revealed deeply concerning living conditions, with the child's bedroom described as squalid, permeated by strong odors of urine and feces, and containing soiled mattresses. The parents reportedly used these specialized beds to confine both their daughters, ages 10 and 12, citing their autism and sleep disorders as justification.

In her statement, Heather claimed she had fed her daughter and administered medication between 4 am and 6 am before going back to sleep. She reported waking around 9 am and believed she heard her daughters playing in their rooms. Darcy Cross stated he was mowing the lawn around noon and only discovered his daughter's body when he returned inside at approximately 4:30 pm, finding her head pinned beneath the metal bed frame.

The couple's surviving 12-year-old daughter has been placed in protective custody by social services. Darcy and Heather Cross now face serious legal consequences, including charges of second-degree manslaughter and contributing to the need for child protection services. They are scheduled to appear in court on October 1.