Stigler baby died after unauthorized visit to mother, report says

Randi Meshelle Lunceford, 29, of Stigler has been charged with four felony counts of causing or permitting injury or abuse to a child in connection with the April 12, 2011, death of her 8-month-old baby, Landon Johnson.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Haskell County District Court.

A newly released report from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services said it was the baby's biological father — who lived apart from Lunceford — who allowed the overnight visit while the father dealt with an emergency.

Landon suffered several serious injuries in the months leading up to his death, according to the DHS report.

DHS officials said they first received a report of Landon being hurt at the home of his mother's boyfriend on Oct. 18, 2010.

Landon was transferred from a nearby hospital to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa after suffering “nonaccidental head trauma,” the report said.

“Landon reportedly had brain swelling and was admitted in critical condition,” the report said.

The child's mother was “unable to provide any explanation” for Landon's injury, DHS workers reported.

DHS child welfare officials entered a “substantiated” finding of abuse and recommended court intervention “as to the child's near death by an unknown perpetrator and failure to protect” by the mother.

However, the Haskell County district attorney's office, which was led by J.B. Miller at the time, declined to file a deprived petition. Prosecutors said they could not meet their burden of proof based on testimony of available witnesses and there was no indication the evidence was likely to change, the report said.

Landon left the hospital in the care of his mother on Dec. 8, 2010, DHS workers reported.