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Parents Charged With Neglect In Their Baby's Death

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Wayne Edward Perry, 41, and his wife Jennifer Sue Perry, 32, were charged with child neglect Friday in connection with the death of their 8-month-old baby girl last August.

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: January 22, 2008

SEBRING — Wayne Edward Perry, 41, and his wife Jennifer Sue Perry, 32, were charged with child neglect Friday in connection with the death of their 8-month-old baby girl last August.

Trinity Rose Perry died Aug. 13 from morphine intoxication.

Trinity was reportedly given the prescription anxiety suppressant Xanax by Diane Friesen-Meier, 41, who has been charged with aggravated manslaughter.

According to Highlands County Sheriff's Office arrest reports, the Perry family was staying at a residence at 145 Pine Tree Drive, in Lake Placid, at the time of the infant's death, after moving from Charlotte County.

Arrest reports state that on Aug. 12, the Perry family had "settled down" their five children for the night when Jennifer allegedly illegally obtained Xanax.
Both Wayne and Jennifer allegedly ingested the pills with several other adult residents in the home, including Friesen.

Jennifer reportedly told investigators that prior to ingesting the Xanax, Friesen suggested that they should administer some of the medication to Trinity, in order to help her sleep.

Jennifer told investigators during their interviews that she didn't comply with Friesen's suggestion, reportedly calling Friesen "crazy."

The Perrys reportedly told investigators that they were incapacitated after taking the drug until the following morning.

The Perrys' arrest reports conclude by saying that Trinity did not receive proper care while they were incapacitated.

According to Friesen's arrest report, a witness said that they saw Friesen enter a room, at some point of the night during the time in question, with a baby bottle, reportedly feeding Trinity.

Friesen reportedly called her husband while she was caring for Trinity, telling him that she was "caring for a child" who was ill, and that she had given her a "cocktail."

Friesen's husband also reportedly told investigators that she came home distraught, saying that the baby was in Florida Hospital Lake Placid and that it might die.

Friesen is currently being held in the Highlands County Jail. She has a pre-trial court appearance scheduled in April.

Following Trinity's death, Jennifer was charged with obstruction, because investigators believed that she had made false statements to them regarding the Xanax.

A $50,000 bond has been set for both parents, with regards to the neglect charges. As of press time on Tuesday, both parents were still being housed in jail.

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