A tragic incident unfolded in Iowa when a mother awoke to discover her infant son unresponsive in a trash can, according to authorities. The mother, identified as 28-year-old Jaley Bush, has since been charged with child endangerment resulting in death.

The heart-wrenching event occurred at the beginning of 2025, but Bush was not arrested until late last month. The child, referred to in court documents as R.S., tragically passed away following the incident.

On January 27, Bush was visiting a friend’s residence on Hickory Terrace in Keokuk, as detailed in a criminal complaint accessed by Law&Crime. Accompanied by her infant son, Bush reportedly fell asleep on a bed in a basement bedroom.

Upon waking, Bush found her son positioned headfirst and unresponsive in a nearby trash can, the court documents reveal. The infant had initially been asleep on the inner section of the bed, and Bush speculated that he must have crawled over or around her, ultimately falling into the trash can.

Responding officers from the Keokuk Police Department arrived at the scene around 2 p.m. and immediately began efforts to save R.S. During their interaction with Bush, officers noted that she appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, describing her demeanor as stoic with slurred speech. Both Bush and her son were transported to the hospital, where she recounted the incident to authorities.

Before falling asleep that day, Bush said she took Klonopin, a sedative that “produces a calming effect on the brain and nerves” and “helps to reduce anxiety, prevent seizures, and promote relaxation,” according to WebMD. She allegedly “did not know whom the pills belonged to,” according to the criminal complaint.

The following day, authorities secured a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from Bush. She tested positive for methamphetamine and benzodiazepines, the latter of which is the classification for Klonopin. She told police she did not take any drugs from the time first responders arrived at her home to the time the drug test was taken, per the court document.

R.S. was pronounced dead on Feb. 5 with the cause of death ruled to be asphyxia — a lack of oxygen.

Bush appeared in court for her charge on Tuesday, per local CBS affiliate KHQA.

Keokuk is located in southeastern Iowa, straddling the borders of Missouri and Illinois.