Mother charged weeks after toddler dies on porch

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. -- (WSOC) -- A woman was arrested Monday in connection with her 3-year-old child's death, weeks after he was found on the front porch of their Burke County home in freezing temperatures, authorities said.

Jamie Basinger is charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse in Landyn Melton's death.

"It was just a terrible tragedy," Basinger said.

Officers were called in March to a home on Hopewell Road after someone drove by the house and spotted a child on the front porch.

Investigators believe that Landyn wandered outside sometime during the night and died after being exposed to the freezing conditions for too long. Windchill values in Burke County that night were below zero.

Deputies said Basinger and her boyfriend were asleep in the home. According to the indictment, she failed to supervise her son, resulting in his death.

"I love my kids to death and I would never do nothing to hurt him," Basinger said.