A father in Mankato is facing criminal charges after authorities say his infant son died following unsafe sleeping conditions involving a weighted blanket.
Arrest and Charges
Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was arrested on April 6 by the Mankato Police Department and charged with second-degree manslaughter. He is currently being held at the Blue Earth County Jail in connection with the death of his 10-month-old son, Remington Tristan Morningstar.
Details of the Incident
According to investigators, emergency responders were called to the home on October 1, 2025, after reports of an unresponsive infant. Despite efforts by first responders and medical staff at Mayo Clinic Health System, the child was pronounced dead.
Authorities say Morningstar placed the baby face-down for a nap and covered him with a weighted blanket weighing nearly 20 pounds. He reportedly did not check on the child for about five hours. When he returned, the infant was unresponsive and had a high body temperature.
Pattern of Dangerous Behavior
Charging documents indicate this was not the first time Morningstar used heavy blankets on the child. The infant had previously been hospitalized with a high fever under similar circumstances, and hospital staff had warned against the practice.
Investigators also allege that Morningstar had previously covered the child’s head with blankets and admitted to using weighted blankets to calm the baby.
Distraction at Time of Incident
Authorities say that after putting the baby down, Morningstar went to another room, closed the door and began playing video games while wearing headphones. He told investigators he believed he could still hear what was happening in the home.
Cause of Death and Next Steps
The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as probable asphyxia due to compression from the weighted blanket. Morningstar is scheduled to appear in court on April 16 as the case proceeds.
