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.
James Mast remains out on bond after the court upgraded the charges against him in connection to the death of his 4-year-old daughter, Jessica Mast, who was found deceased back in December.
A report from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department says when the deputy arrived at the Mast home in the early morning hours of December 20, in reference to a 4-year-old female who was deceased, the girls father told authorities that his daughter, Jessica Mast had been beaten, submerged in a pond, then left to freeze on the bank before being taken back into the residence. The girl’s mother, Mary Mast and a 2-year-old male child had also reportedly been beaten to a severe extent.
Two of four defendants facing charges in connection to the death of a four-year-old Benton County girl in December are scheduled to be in court on Wednesday.
During the early morning hours of December 20, Benton County authorities were called to a residence in reference to a 4-year-old female who was deceased. Jessica Mast had allegedly been beaten, submerged in a pond, then left to freeze on the bank before being taken back into the residence. The girl’s mother, Mary Mast and a 2-year-old male child had also reportedly been beaten to a severe extent.
According to online court documents, 35-year-old Ethan Joel Mast and 21-year-old Kourtney Aumen, who were the first to be charged, are facing a Class A Felony for Murder in the Second Degree; three counts of a Class A Felony for Assault in the First Degree- Serious Physical Injury; and a Class C Felony for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Each is being held without bond.