Manslaughter charge dismissed in case of suffocated baby

The case against the mother of a 7-week-old girl who died after having her head wrapped in a blanket has been dismissed.

Tiffany Bohlen, also known as Tiffany Balch, 20, of 119 W. 11th St., had been charged with manslaughter for the Feb. 27 death of her daughter, Caitlynne Bohlen.

The baby died after a pacifier was placed in her mouth, a blanket was wrapped around her head and she was squeezed against the side of her bassinet with a pillow, according to police.

On Tuesday, Bohlen's boyfriend, Christopher M. Klein, 21, pleaded no contest to manslaughter for the death. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 30.

In exchange for his plea, a charge of violating the sexual offender registration act was dismissed.

During Bohlen's preliminary hearing earlier this month, Grand Island police investigator Mike Nelson testified that the couple had been using the wrapping method on Caitlynne for five or six days prior to her death in order to keep the pacifier in her mouth as she slept. Nelson said Klein told officers that Bohlen taught him the method, but Nelson testified he didn't ask if Bohlen had instructed Klein to wrap the baby in that manner the night she died.

Hall County Judge David Bush took the case under advisement following the preliminary hearing.

According to Bush's decision, in order for the state to prevail, it must be proven that Bohlen caused the baby's death while in the commission of an unlawful act. However, the evidence presented at the preliminary hearing indicates it was Klein who wrapped Caitlynne and put her to bed the night she died.

"If these acts constitute child abuse, then it was Mr. Klein's activities that were the moving or effective cause of Caitlynne's death," Bush wrote. "While the state may have shown the offense alleged has been committed, the state has failed to show there is probable cause to believe it was the defendant who committed that offense."

Klein, who wasn't Caitlynne's father, remains in the Hall County Jail. In addition to the local case, he is being held on warrants from Minnesota for felony third-degree criminal conduct and writing bad checks.