A Montana woman allegedly killed her 5-year-old son by suffocating him with a plastic bag because she believed she was trying to “save him because things would have only gotten so much worse.”
Kathryn Garaas faces a deliberate homicide charge in the death of 5-year-old Reign Tyler Blair at their home near Whitehall, about 60 miles northwest of Bozeman.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the residence on the afternoon of April 24 for a reported medical emergency. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by local CBS affiliate KRTV, the boy’s father requested a welfare check after receiving a disturbing text message from Garaas.
When deputies arrived, Garaas answered the door and reportedly told them, “he’s in his room.”
Officers went into the child’s bedroom and allegedly found a plastic bag covering his head, according to the affidavit. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Garaas later told deputies she killed her son because she believed she needed to “save him because things would have only gotten so much worse.”
In an interview with KRTV, Colleen Much — who created a GoFundMe page for Reign’s family — said Garaas had previously been separated from the family. However, she had been staying with the boy and his father for several weeks before the killing, and there had reportedly been no prior incidents.
“I cannot and will absolutely not pretend to claim we have even a remote understanding of the reasoning behind this, or what occurred,” Much wrote in the fundraiser description. “We pray for answers that may never come, and when they do, no healing will come of it.”
Much called Reign a “precious, innocent, perfect, beautiful little light” who was raised by his father.
“Reign is his purpose, his love, and his life from the moment he took his first breath,” Much wrote. “There are no words for the kind of strength it takes for a man to be a single father, and the life he built for Reign is one we take solace in knowing was fulfilled with love, laughter, and precious joy.”
Garaas remains held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.
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