During the early morning hours of December 20, 2020, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department was called to a residence in regards to an unresponsive 4-year-old girl.
When authorities arrived the girl’s father, James Mast told authorities that his daughter, Jessica had been beaten, submerged in a pond, then left to freeze on the bank before being taken back into the residence, where she later died. The girl’s mother and a 2-year-old male child had also reportedly been beaten to a severe extent.
The mother of the girl, 29-year-old Mary Mast waived formal arraignment on June 1 and pleaded not guilty to felonies for first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and first degree assault. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 15 at Benton County Circuit Court.