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.
Posted By: Hewson Beattie April 23, 2021 @ 9:22 am Local News, News
The Benton County Prosecutor has upgraded the charges against four people after a four-year-old girl died near Cole Camp last December.
The parents and two neighbors are now charged with first-degree murder.
The parents, James and Mary Mast, were originally charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
The neighbors, Ethan Mast and Kourtney Aumen, were originally charged with second-degree murder.
KY3 reports one of the neighbors told authorities the girl was beaten with a belt and dunked in a pond.
The girl’s parents and a two-year-old child had also been beaten.
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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.