Westland mother, 31, charged in death of infant son

A Westland woman accused in the death of her infant son last month has been charged, officials said Thursday.

Trisha Lempea, 31, was arraigned Thursday in 18th District Court in Westland on charges of felony murder, first-degree child abuse and concealing the death of an individual, Westland police said.

A judge remanded Lempea to jail without bond and scheduled her next court appearance for next Thursday, they said.

If convicted, she faces up to life in prison for the murder charge, up to life for the child abuse charge and up to five years for the concealing the death of a person charge.

Authorities said Westland police officers were called to a hospital at about 11 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2023, for a report of an infant's death.

A preliminary investigation revealed the child had been born about a week earlier at a home in the 2500 block of Bannister Court near Venoy and Glenwood roads.

Detectives also determined the child died at the home and the baby boy's mother did not call for medical attention.

After obtaining the results of an autopsy from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, police arrested the infant's mother, identified as Lempea.

They also said they cannot disclose further details about the case at this time.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez