Lyndsey Fiddler

Case record: Lyndsey Fiddler — washing machine death of infant

Names and key persons

• Lyndsey Fiddler (also named Lyndsey Dawn Fiddler), 27, was the mother of Maggie May Trammel.
• Maggie May Trammel was an infant who was described as ten days old when she died.
• Rhonda Coshatt was the infant’s great aunt and was described as being in the home when Fiddler took the infant to another room and said she was going to put the girl to bed; Coshatt also told authorities she fed Maggie May and changed her diaper before Fiddler took the infant to another room.
• Benjamin Trammel was the infant’s father.
• Jessica Solis was the aunt of Maggie May.
• Dewey resident Tera Rickman and Marion Pyatte, Bartlesville resident, were quoted about the case.
• Joe Parret was quoted about Fiddler and his view that jail could help her.
• District Attorney Kevin Buchanan was involved in initially charging Fiddler with first-degree murder and later amending the charge.
• Washington County District Judge Curtis DeLapp sentenced Fiddler.
• Washington County Assistant District Attorney Will Drake commented on the investigation and charging decisions.
• Bartlesville Police Chief Tom Holland commented on the scene and his experience.
• Paramedic John Houser commented on trying to save the baby and what he saw when the baby was lifted into the ambulance.
• Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled on the cause of death.
• Rhonda Coshatt was described as being on prescribed medication and not breaking the law; police said Coshatt was investigated and discussed with the DA, and they did not expect charges to be filed against her.

Background

Maggie May Trammel died when she was found in a washing machine after a spin cycle. Fiddler repeatedly said she did not know how the child had gotten into the washing machine.

Fiddler tested positive for meth and other drugs after her arrest, including methamphetamine, amphetamine, opiates, and benzodiazepine.

Fiddler was arrested and charged after an investigation that began with a 911 call reporting the death of an infant child whose body was discovered inside a washing machine that had just completed its spin cycle.

Fiddler’s aunt, Rhonda Coshatt, told authorities she fed Maggie May and changed her diaper before Fiddler took the infant to another room, saying she was going to put the girl to bed. Coshatt told police she found the baby in the washing machine, which had been making noises as if it were out of balance.

Fiddler denied placing the baby in the washing machine.

The autopsy report for Maggie May Trammel was released by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office and ruled the infant’s death a homicide, and the autopsy showed Trammel died by drowning. The report noted the baby had numerous contusions and abrasions consistent with conditions endured “while in the washing machine during a wash cycle.” There were no drugs or alcohol in the baby’s system according to toxicology tests performed by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Fiddler had an arrest and court history described as run-ins with Bartlesville police, including larceny, assault and battery, failing to show up for court, and incidents involving speeding, driving without a license, and not having her kids in car seats. She was arrested in April for possession of a controlled drug when she was four months pregnant, receiving a one-year suspended sentence and 10 days in jail, but she did not show up for court.

Family members tried to get Fiddler’s parental rights revoked before the birth of her third child due to concerns about her drug abuse, but the effort did not happen.

Fiddler’s other children, described as ages 6 and 9, later lived with a relative.

Fiddler requested that she be sent to prison as soon as possible and made that request in court at sentencing.

The offence

Maggie May Trammel was found dead inside a washing machine at Fiddler’s Bartlesville apartment. She was described as being inside a top loading washing machine for up to 40 minutes before being discovered, and the machine went through an entire spin cycle.

The death was ruled drowning, and the case was treated as homicide.

At least one account described Fiddler and her aunt Rhonda Coshatt arguing during a 911 call, in which:

• Fiddler said: ‘My baby is dead.’
• Coshatt said: ‘No I did not kill your baby, you did.'

Fiddler stated that her aunt, Rhonda Coshatt, was also with her in the home when Maggie May drowned and that her aunt was high on morphine, but that she did not know who put the baby in the washer. Police said Coshatt was on prescribed medication and did not break the law.

Investigation

The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the infant’s death by drowning and released the autopsy report for Maggie May Trammel; the report was released “this week” in connection with a ruling that her death was a homicide.

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office charged Fiddler with first-degree murder after the medical examiner’s ruling and set the bond in connection with Fiddler’s detention.

Bartlesville police arrested Fiddler after an extensive investigation. The investigation involved a 911 call reporting the death of an infant child discovered inside a washing machine that had just completed its spin cycle.

Fiddler’s intoxication and drug use were described as relevant to charging and sentencing decisions. Police said Fiddler tested positive for meth and other drugs after her arrest. Tests showed Fiddler had methamphetamine, amphetamine, opiates, and benzodiazepine in her system at the time of her arrest.

The murder charge alleged the baby died because Fiddler failed to adequately care for the infant due to exposure to illegal drugs.

District Attorney Kevin Buchanan initially charged Fiddler with first-degree murder and later amended the charge in August, saying the “evidence does not indicate the defendant intentionally killed her child.”

Fiddler told investigators she didn't know how the child had gotten into the washing machine.

Arrest

Fiddler was arrested after police were called to an apartment following a 911 call. Police officers were called to a downtown apartment at 7:42 p.m. Thursday after the 911 call.

Fiddler was held without bond, with authorities saying a bond hearing would be scheduled for that weekend.

Fiddler returned to court on March 10 in connection with the case proceedings.

At the November 12 court appearance, Fiddler had no attorney and was in police custody as she left the courtroom in handcuffs.

Bond was set at $100,000 in connection with her detention for the murder charge.

Trial

Fiddler pleaded guilty in August to a reduced manslaughter charge and child neglect in a Washington County courtroom.

Fiddler waived her right a jury trial on August 9, 2011.

Fiddler’s guilty plea included second-degree manslaughter and child neglect.

Fiddler wrote in court papers filed in Washington County:

"I omitted to use ordinary care and caution in regards to supervising Maggie Mae by using and abusing methamphetamine and the prescription drugs,"

Fiddler stated in a presentencing investigation report:

"I know everybody has slammed me, and I deserve some slamming for taking care of my children while on drugs, but I know I would not hurt my children. I never have," she states in the report. "It's all so bad and everyone has spent so much time putting me down. I feel like it's them against me."

In August, Fiddler pleaded guilty to charges related to the Nov. 4 death of Maggie May Trammel.

Fiddler requested sentencing as soon as possible.

Sentencing

Washington County District Judge Curtis DeLapp sentenced Fiddler on Wednesday to:

• four years in prison on a second-degree manslaughter charge, and
• a split 30-year term on a child-neglect charge, with 15 years to be served in prison followed by a 15-year probation.

The prison sentences were described as running concurrently.

The split term called for 15 years to be served in prison followed by 15 years probation, and child neglect was described as a violent crime requiring the defendant to serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

Fiddler was required to serve at least 85-percent of the sentence—12 years and nine months—before being eligible for parole.

The judge addressed Fiddler with the comment:

• DeLapp said: "Good luck, Ms. Fiddler,"

Fiddler was fined $1,500 and was ordered to undergo substance-abuse counseling and register as a violent offender.

A presentencing recommendation from the District Attorney’s Office resulted in the sentence described as 30 years with 15 years to be served in the Department of Corrections.

District Attorney Kevin Buchanan provided a statement, including:

"Today, Lyndsey Dawn Fiddler entered pleas of guilty to the charges of Manslaughter 2nd Degree and Child Neglect ending a nine-month long investigation and prosecution that has been the focus of the Washington County District Attorney's Office and the Bartlesville Police Department since these crimes occurred in November 2010.
This case has reached a positive resolution in large part due to the hard work and professionalism of the Bartlesville Police Department. This case involved unique factual and legal circumstances that resulted in the tragic death of Maggie Mae Trammel, the defendant's ten-day old infant.
These unusual circumstances created difficult evidentiary issues, including limited samples of Ms. Fiddler's blood to prove the quantity of drugs in her system.
After extensive review and discussion of the events that lead to the death of Maggie Mae Trammel, the evidence does not indicate that the Defendant intentionally killed her child.
Ms. Fiddler's conscious decision to ingest Methamphetamine, along with other prescription medication, directly led to the death of Maggie Mae. The Defendant's intoxication rendered her incapable of caring for her child and exposed her infant child to the consequences of illegal drug use.
The Washington County District Attorney's Office has made this case a priority and has dedicated many long hours and resources to this successful prosecution.
The culmination of this work has led this office to recommend that the Defendant be sentenced to 30 years with 15 years to be served in the Department of Corrections.
The crime of Child Neglect is categorized as a violent crime and requires the Defendant to serve eighty-five percent of her incarceration before becoming eligible for parole. Parole is not mandated upon reaching eighty-five percent of the Defendant's sentence.
Consideration was given that the recommended sentence will ensure that the Defendant's surviving minor children will reach the age of majority before Ms. Fiddler is released and therefore they will not be placed back into her custody.
After release from incarceration the Defendant will be closely supervised for an additional fifteen years.
In the event of future violations of the law or rules of probation the Defendant will be subject to serving the remainder of the sentence in jail.
The Washington County District Attorney's Office is acutely aware of the outrage felt by our community following Maggie Mae Trammel's death.
Given the challenges facing my office in prosecuting this case to a successful and desirable verdict, I believe that an appropriate and just outcome has been reached for Ms. Fiddler's surviving children and all others personally involved and affected by this case."

Buchanan’s statement also included:

• "evidence does not indicate the defendant intentionally killed her child."

The assistant district attorney Will Drake commented on the investigation and charging decision:

• "At this point, the investigation does not warrant a murder charge," he says.
• "Drake says that could change, however. The investigation is ongoing, and he said they're not ruling anything out."

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Fiddler pleaded guilty in August to second-degree manslaughter and child neglect.

Fiddler was sentenced on October 5, 2011 to the prison and split term described, with concurrent sentences and parole eligibility tied to serving 85 percent of the incarceration term.

Fiddler remained in Washington County jail before the prison transfer described in court following sentencing.

Aftermath

Fiddler’s surviving children lived with a relative after her arrest; the recommendation for the sentence length was intended to ensure that they would reach adulthood by the time of her release, so they would not be placed back in her custody.

Supporters gathered in the courtroom and followed Fiddler down the hall to the elevator as she made the trip back to the jail where she had been held since November.

Bartlesville police said they did not expect charges against Rhonda Coshatt.

Other details

Bartlesville Police Chief Tom Holland commented:

• "I started in Fort Worth and have walked into apartments with seven dead bodies, seen terrible crimes, mass murder, even,"
• "The mother was asleep and she had trouble waking her and heard the washer out of balance, clanging, so went to lift the lid so it would stop and in the washing machine, saw the baby,"

Paramedic John Houser commented:

• "Terrible. I don’t even know how to describe it."
• He also said: "she was so tiny when he lifted her into the ambulance, that it just broke his heart."

The following community comments were recorded:

• Tera Rickman said: "Oh it's horrible. Horrible. You don't expect to hear anything like that, especially here,"
• Marion Pyatte said: "I think it's sad. I think it's sad that there is a child that's gone. I think it's sad that anybody got to that stage in their life,"

Fiddler’s aunt Jessica Solis said:

• "Tiny, very tiny. She had long feet and big hands. I only go to see her four times,"
• "I want people to see the effects of drugs. That's the most important thing I think. It could have been prevented. Like the lady said, it really could have,"

Benjamin Trammel was quoted:

• ‘Inside my heart, I can’t believe Lyndsey would have hurt our little girl. I don’t believe it in my heart to be honest with you,’ Trammel said.

Joe Parret was quoted:

• "Meth is something that grabs a hold of you and you just can't explain,"
• "Yes, I know her, and I know her boyfriend,"
• "Fiddler is actually a nice person, but he said she's also an addict."
• Parret said: "jail is going to save his life, and he thinks it will do the same for Fiddler."

In November 7, 2010 commentary-style reporting, the case was described as a ten-day-old baby girl dying after being placed in a washing machine as it went through an entire spin cycle, with the baby inside the top loading washing machine for up to 40 minutes before being discovered.

Fiddler’s sentencing was described as connected to drug use and supervision concerns, including that the reduced charge and sentencing were tied to evidence and intent as described by the district attorney.