Topline: A Wickliffe woman facing charges in the 2023 death of her two-month-old son was previously convicted of killing another child more than a decade ago — and spent two years in prison for it.
Published: April 16, 2026 9:30 am ET
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Krystal Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio — A 41-year-old Wickliffe woman has been indicted in the death of her two-month-old son, and court records reviewed by investigators show it is not the first time she has faced charges in the death of a child in her care.
Krystal D. Krause was secretly indicted by a Lake County grand jury on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children, both third-degree felonies, according to WOIO Cleveland 19. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday, April 10, alleges that Krause “recklessly” caused the death of her two-month-old son on November 15, 2023.
According to police, the baby boy was found unresponsive at a residence on Ridge Road in Wickliffe and was later pronounced dead.
Wickliffe Police forwarded the case to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review. It was then presented to a grand jury last month, ultimately resulting in Krause’s indictment.
Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, and booked into the Lake County Jail. She was scheduled to be arraigned on April 14. She is currently represented by the Lake County Public Defender’s Office. Multiple calls seeking comment from her defense went unanswered.
This is not the first time Krause has been charged in connection with a child’s death. Court records show that in July 2009, she was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child.
As part of a plea agreement, the involuntary manslaughter charge — a first-degree felony — was reduced to reckless homicide, a third-degree felony. Krause pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and endangering children in October 2009 and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Ohio Mother Charged in 2023 Infant Death Previously Convicted in Killing of Another Child
A Wickliffe woman facing charges in the 2023 death of her two-month-old son was previously convicted of killing another child more than a decade ago — and spent two years in prison for it.
By Silvia Torres
Published: April 16, 2026 9:30 am ET
Krystal Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio — A 41-year-old Wickliffe woman has been indicted in the death of her two-month-old son, and court records reviewed by investigators show it is not the first time she has faced charges in the death of a child in her care.
Krystal D. Krause was secretly indicted by a Lake County grand jury on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children, both third-degree felonies, according to WOIO Cleveland 19. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday, April 10, alleges that Krause “recklessly” caused the death of her two-month-old son on November 15, 2023.
According to police, the baby boy was found unresponsive at a residence on Ridge Road in Wickliffe and was later pronounced dead.
Wickliffe Police forwarded the case to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review. It was then presented to a grand jury last month, ultimately resulting in Krause’s indictment.
Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, and booked into the Lake County Jail. She was scheduled to be arraigned on April 14. She is currently represented by the Lake County Public Defender’s Office. Multiple calls seeking comment from her defense went unanswered.
This is not the first time Krause has been charged in connection with a child’s death. Court records show that in July 2009, she was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child.
As part of a plea agreement, the involuntary manslaughter charge — a first-degree felony — was reduced to reckless homicide, a third-degree felony. Krause pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and endangering children in October 2009 and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Ohio Mother Charged in 2023 Infant Death Previously Convicted in Killing of Another Child
A Wickliffe woman facing charges in the 2023 death of her two-month-old son was previously convicted of killing another child more than a decade ago — and spent two years in prison for it.
By Silvia Torres
Published: April 16, 2026 9:30 am ET
Krystal Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio — A 41-year-old Wickliffe woman has been indicted in the death of her two-month-old son, and court records reviewed by investigators show it is not the first time she has faced charges in the death of a child in her care.
Krystal D. Krause was secretly indicted by a Lake County grand jury on charges of reckless homicide and endangering children, both third-degree felonies, according to WOIO Cleveland 19. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday, April 10, alleges that Krause “recklessly” caused the death of her two-month-old son on November 15, 2023.
According to police, the baby boy was found unresponsive at a residence on Ridge Road in Wickliffe and was later pronounced dead.
Wickliffe Police forwarded the case to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review. It was then presented to a grand jury last month, ultimately resulting in Krause’s indictment.
Krause was arrested on April 9, 2026, and booked into the Lake County Jail. She was scheduled to be arraigned on April 14. She is currently represented by the Lake County Public Defender’s Office. Multiple calls seeking comment from her defense went unanswered.
This is not the first time Krause has been charged in connection with a child’s death. Court records show that in July 2009, she was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child.
As part of a plea agreement, the involuntary manslaughter charge — a first-degree felony — was reduced to reckless homicide, a third-degree felony. Krause pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and endangering children in October 2009 and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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