Woman allegedly tries to drown baby in Clark Fork near Superior
A Missoula woman is facing attempted deliberate homicide charges after allegedly trying to drown her baby in the Clark Fork River last Wednesday.
According to a complaint filed by Mineral County Attorney Shaun Donovan, Sherri Renee Telnas immersed herself and her 10-month-old son in the river near Superior before taking him to the Mineral County Community Hospital for treatment.
“The evidence seems to suggest that this happened somewhere between Superior and St. Regis,” Donovan said.
Telnas is being held on a $200,000 bail bond. Her son, Jackson, was stabilized at the Mineral County Community Hospital and was then transported to the neo-natal intensive care unit in the Missoula Community Medical Center.
“He seems to be recovering. It’s clear he’s going to live, but there is some worry about the residual effects of the incident,” Donovan said.
According to an affidavit filed Monday morning, the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from the Mineral County Community Hospital around midday last Wednesday. Mineral County Sheriff Hugh Hopwood and Undersheriff Mike Johnson arrived at the hospital and identified Telnas, who then told them, “I tried to drown my baby.”
The affidavit says the child was given an X-ray, which showed that he had been submersed in water for an “appreciable period of time” and had water in his lungs. Patrick Tufts, the doctor who examined him, then requested an advanced life support ambulance to transport the child to Missoula for further care.
Johnson interviewed Telnas, who according to the affidavit, said she had driven from Missoula with her child to a location that she could not remember. She then exited her car and waded into the river, immersing herself and her son.
The affidavit states she said she was told to drown her child by “bad thoughts or voices.”
The location she described to Johnson indicated that she was most likely in the Clark Fork River.
Donovan said that after her arrest, authorities immediately contacted her husband, Jacob Telnas, to find out if the couple had any other children who might be in danger. They learned there were no other children and Donovan said they are in the process of getting a search warrant to search the Telnas home.
According to Donovan, Telnas’ car has been impounded and is being searched for evidence as to where she allegedly tried to drown her child. He said Hopwood has been out searching the riverbanks looking for evidence of the incident.
The car is a black 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. Donovan said anyone who saw a car fitting that description near the river on Wednesday should contact the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office with that information.
Telnas’ court appointed attorney is Ed Sheehy, and her first court appearance will be in the Mineral County District Court in Superior Wednesday, April 23, at 10 a.m.