Friday, November 22, 2024

Neosho woman charged with felony child abuse in death of 2-month-old son


A Neosho woman has been charged with child abuse resulting in a death.

According to the probable cause statement, Sarah E. Sobelman, 30, was responsible for the October 20 death of her 2-month-old son, Colt Martin

An arrest warrant was issued for Sobelman, 30, who is to be held with no bond. 







The charge was filed today, one day after the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a domestic assault charge against Sobelman, alleging she attacked a man with a kitchen knife.

According to the probable cause statement on the child abuse charge, the Newton County Sheriff's Office brought Sobelman and the child's father in for questioning after an autopsy at Southwest Missouri Forensics indicated the child's death was a homicide.

From the probable cause statement:

After the autopsy, Detective Black and I spoke with {the father} and Sarah Sobelman at the Newton County Sheriff's Office. During the interview with  {the father} we advised him of the preliminary results of the autopsy on his son 

{He} was visibly upset and adamant that he had nothing to do with the death of (Victim 1). {He}stated that he would take a Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) test anytime because he had nothing to with the death of (Victim 1). {He} stated that he watched (Victim 1) on 10/18/2024 and he was with (Victim 1) all night while the mother Sarah Sobelman worked the night shift.

{The father} stated that {he} came home from work at approximately 7am on the morning of 10/19/2024. stated that a few hours after Sarah arrived home, he went to Wal-Mart to pick up a grocery order and had to run some other errands. 

{He} stated when he returned home around an hour and a half later, he noticed that Sarah was giving (Victim 1) a bath. Sarah told him that (Victim 1) had thrown up a lot and she was cleaning him. {He} stated later that evening Sarah went to work and he stayed home with (Victim 1) and their other child who is an eight-year-old female. 








{The father} stated later that night that (Victim 1) was not acting right and appeared to be having trouble breathing .{He}said before Sarah went to work she told him to call her if (Victim 1) was not acting right and not to take (Victim 1) for medical attention until he talked to her. 

{The father} stated he called Sarah on FaceTime and showed her what (Victim 1) was doing and advised {the baby} was having trouble breathing. 

During the FaceTime call, Sarah advised to take the baby for medical attention. 

On 10/20/2024 (Victim 1) was taken to Freeman Hospital in Neosho, MO where (Victim 1) was pronounced deceased at 0159hrs. After speaking to {the father} we spoke to Sarah Sobelman. 

We advised Sarah that the preliminary findings from the autopsy on her son (Victim 1) showed the manner of death to be probable homicide. After being told this information, Sarah stated that she wanted an attorney and did not agree to speak with us any further on the matter.








Though the information was not included in the probable cause statement, Newton County Circuit Court records indicate Sobelman's interview at the Sheriff's Office led to the filing of a misdemeanor assault charge against her for allegedly attacking a female deputy.

According to the probable cause statement in the assault case, after Sobelman refused to talk and said she needed a lawyer, she started to leave and was told she was not free to leave.

Sobelman elbowed the deputy and shoved her.

The deputy did not suffer any injuries, the statement said.

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