No prison time for mom who left son to fatally freeze

A drug-addicted North Carolina mom received no prison time for leaving her three-year-old son outside to fatally freeze during her high.

Landyn Melton celebrated his birthday just one day before he died of hypothermia March 15 on the front porch of the family’s Morganton home. A horrified neighbor found him that morning and called police.

Meth-addled mother Jamie Lyn Basinger, 24, pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter for his death.

She accepted a plea deal of a suspended sentence of 19 to 32 months along with three years of supervised probation in the Burke County Superior Court, the district attorney’s office confirmed.

Jamie Lyn Basinger, 24, was high on meth at the time her son froze to death outside

Landyn Melton (left) celebrated his birthday just one day before he died of hypothermia March 15. His mother, Jamie Lyn Basinger, 24, (right) was high on meth at the time

Melton (pictured in court Monday) accepted a plea deal of a suspended sentence of 19 to 32 months along with three years of supervised probation in the Burke County Superior Court

Melton (pictured in court Monday) accepted a plea deal of a suspended sentence of 19 to 32 months along with three years of supervised probation in the Burke County Superior Court

Basinger pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for his death. Her attorney said 'she didn't understand this'

Basinger pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for his death. Her attorney said ‘she didn’t understand this’

Melton's attorney said his heartbroken client complied to authorities because 'she wanted answers herself'

Melton’s attorney said his heartbroken client complied to authorities because ‘she wanted answers herself’

According to the Morganton News Herald, the eight months Basinger had already been jailed counted toward her final punishment. Her felony child abuse charge was also dropped.

A judge ordered her to 72 hours of community service and if any terms are violated, she faces jail time. 

Melton’s attorney said his heartbroken client complied to authorities because ‘she wanted answers herself’ about the nightmare March incident.

‘She didn’t understand this — it didn’t make sense to her,’ Frank Webster said in a court statement.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lippert said she was shocked the police officer didn't 'break the storm door glass' from knocking at the door after finding the child

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lippert said she was shocked the police officer didn’t ‘break the storm door glass’ from knocking at the door after finding the child

The mom was unconscious for several hours while her son was locked outside in the freezing temperatures

The mom was unconscious for several hours while her son was locked outside in the freezing temperatures

‘When this happened, when she saw Landyn laying on the porch, she broke down in tears — falling on the ground. She’s really never stopped crying since, your honor.’

Melton admitted she was using different drugs in the days leading up to her son’s death.

On her son’s third birthday, she smoked marijuana in concoction with the methamphetamine she used the day prior.

She was unconscious for several hours as her son was locked outside in freezing temperatures.

On her son's third birthday, Melton smoked marijuana in concoction with her use of methamphetamine the day prior

On her son’s third birthday, Melton smoked marijuana in concoction with her use of methamphetamine the day prior

A horrified neighbor found the three-year-old that March morning and immediately informed police

A horrified neighbor found the three-year-old that March morning and immediately informed police

Sadly, police found smudge marks from the toddler on the windows, showing his attempts to get back inside.

Landyn had ‘blood on his face, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma,’ according to the newspaper.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lippert said she was shocked the police officer didn’t ‘break the storm door glass’ from knocking so hard after finding the boy.

‘She was supposed to be supervising this child,’ Lippert argued. ‘He had just turned 3, he was outside’ in 21-degree weather.

Police sadly found smudge marks left from the toddler on the windows showing his attempts to get inside the home

Landyn had 'blood on his face, but an autopsy showed no signs of trauma'

Police sadly found smudge marks left from the toddler on the windows showing his attempts to get inside the home

The Morganton mother said on her Facebook bio page she is a 'stay-at-home parent'

The Morganton mother said on her Facebook bio page she is a ‘stay-at-home parent’

‘By her own admission, she was sleeping harder than normal. She didn’t hear him — didn’t hear him leave the room, didn’t hear him leave the house, didn’t hear him banging on the door. She was asleep while he was freezing to death.’

Melton’s boyfriend, Joshua Steffey, who was also inside the house and admitted to using drugs, answered the door.

Melton, a mother to one other child, will be required to undergo a substance abuse assessment and acquiesce to orders from the Department of Social Services.

‘The court system, all of us will move on. We’ll go on to other things. She’ll never go on. She’ll never be able to move past this,’ said Webster. 

Melton is a mother to one other child (shown right) She will be required to undergo a substance abuse assessment and acquiesce to orders from the Department of Social Services

Melton is a mother to one other child (shown right) She will be required to undergo a substance abuse assessment and acquiesce to orders from the Department of Social Services



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