Portsmouth woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in case involving infant’s death

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that on Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Portsmouth Police Department was dispatched to an apartment in Portsmouth after the 911 communication center received a call of an unresponsive infant.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that officers and detectives responded to this location and found a 3-month-old infant lifeless. The infant was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The Portsmouth Police Department contacted the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU), and it was determined that this case would be handled by the SVU. 

The infant’s body was sent to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. 

Detectives conducted a search of the apartment, locating evidence, and they interviewed several witnesses as well.

Arrested was Kristen Michelle Vassar, 25, of Portsmouth, Ohio. Vassar has been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, a felony of the first degree; two counts of child endangerment, a felony of the third degree; and two counts of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. 

Vassar is being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $180,000 bond and appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that could result in more charges at a later date. The arrest was the result of the Portsmouth Police Department, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office SVU and the Portsmouth Fire Department working jointly as one team.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at (740) 351-1091.