WAUKEE, Iowa — EDITOR'S NOTE: This story contains descriptions of an alleged crime that may be disturbing to some.
The Waukee Police Department has arrested and charged a 26-year-old woman in connection to the August death of her 1-year-old son.
Police took Waukee resident Yemissi N. Keto into custody on Friday and charged her with Murder in the First Degree and Child Endangerment Resulting in a death.
"This arrest is the culmination of an exhaustive investigation by the Waukee Police Department team. I am extremely proud of the work our officers do every day to bring cases to a successful resolution and keep our community safe," Waukee Police Chief Chad McCluskey said in a statement.
The charges come almost two weeks after police announced they were investigating the child's death as a homicide.
Police found an unresponsive 1-year-old boy at a Waukee residence around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31 while responding to an "unknown problem", according to a criminal complaint filed against Keto. Responders tried to resuscitate the child, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
While officers were at the residence, they noticed a "strong odor of bleach" and found several bottles of bleach and other cleaning substances around the child, the criminal complaint states. In addition, the floor where the child was found was wet.
In an interview with police, Keto admitted to pouring cleaning products on the child's face before suffocating the child.
The criminal complaint indicates Keto "admitted these actions were taken with the intent to kill [the child]."
Keto is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail.
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