Baby Died From Diaper Rash After Being Left In Swing For Days

Prosecutors laid out disturbing details about the death of a four-month-old child during their opening statement at the murder trial of the infant's father, Zachary Koehn. Authorities found the lifeless body of Sterling Koehn in a baby swing in his parent's apartment in August 2017 and they believe the young boy had been sitting in the swing for over a week. 

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told the jury that Sterling was neglected by his parents, pointing out that the child was malnourished and dehydrated. However, that was not what ultimately led to his death, as McAllister explained. 

“He died of diaper rash. That’s right, diaper rash,” McAllister said.

He said that Sterling had been wearing the same diaper for nearly two weeks, causing severe diaper rash, which ultimately became infected with E. coli. The medical examiner described finding maggots and larva as he removed layers of urine soaked clothing from the child. 

Toni Friedrich, who was one of the first responders when the Koehn's called 911, told the jury that she knew there was nothing she could to save Sterling and described seeing gnats fly off the child as she approached. 

The boy's mother, Cheyanne Harris, was also charged with murder and will be tried during a separate trial. 

Photo: Iowa Attorney General's Office