Mother Charged With Smothering Her Baby To Death Sets Herself On Fire

Toni Medrano, a 29-year-old Minnesota woman who was facing manslaughter charges for smothering her 3-week-old son to death, has died after she reportedly doused herself with gasoline and set herself on fire.

According to police, Medrano was charged with manslaughter last month after she allegedly came home drunk, fell asleep onn the couch then rolled over on top of her 3-week-old son. Medrano woke up the next morning to find the child unresponsive.

Ramsey County medical examiners concluded that the child died of asphyxia after Medrano rolled on top of him and smothered him to death. Medrano's blood alcohol level was measured at 0.11 at 11 a.m. that morning.

Emergency responders were dispatched to a St. Paul Park residence last Monday after Medrano reportedly doused herself with a flammable liquid then set herself on fire in the home's backyard.

Medrano was rushed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, but was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. Investigators say Medrano had become despondent and suicidal prior to her death.

Had Medrano been convicted of the charge she faced, she would have been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.