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.
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.