MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. — A second woman has been charged in connection with the death of a 4-month-old infant in Mingo County as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court, 35-year-old Merissa Pruitt, of Delbarton, is charged with child neglect resulting in death.

The infant’s mother, 35-year-old Jonda Whitt, was previously charged with child neglect resulting in death and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Authorities said the investigation began June 20 after Mingo County 911 received information that an infant had died and that emergency services allegedly had not been contacted immediately.

According to investigators, emergency medical personnel responded later that afternoon and observed signs indicating the infant had been deceased for some time. A physician subsequently pronounced the child dead.

Court documents state that investigators interviewed Whitt, who told authorities she discovered the infant unresponsive after waking up and attempted CPR before seeking help.

However, investigators allege emergency dispatch records do not show that Whitt personally contacted 911.

During the investigation, officers also reported finding what they believed to be fentanyl concealed inside Whitt’s mouth. According to the complaint, Whitt later admitted to investigators that she had used fentanyl before the child’s death.

Investigators said Pruitt had been allowing Whitt and the infant to stay at her home. Authorities allege Pruitt failed to contact emergency services or take action to obtain medical assistance after learning the infant had died.

The cause of the infant’s death has not yet been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

COSHOCTON, Ohio — A Nashport woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in two separate felony drug cases in Coshocton County.

According to Coshocton County court records, 27-year-old Destinee M. Rehard was sentenced on June 5 following convictions involving drug possession and evidence tampering.

In one case, Rehard received an 11-month prison sentence for possession of a fentanyl-related compound and an additional 30 months for tampering with evidence. Those sentences will be served at the same time.

In a second case, Rehard pleaded guilty to an amended charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a first-degree felony. The court imposed a mandatory indefinite prison sentence of six to nine years.

That sentence will also run concurrently with the prison term from the earlier case.

Following her release from prison, Rehard will be subject to five years of mandatory post-release control, with at least two years of supervision required under Ohio law. The court also advised her of the provisions of the Reagan Tokes Law, which governs indefinite prison sentences for certain felony offenses.

Rehard was remanded to the custody of the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office following sentencing for transport to a state correctional institution. Court records indicate she received credit for 17 days previously served in jail.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio farmers participating in the state’s H2Ohio conservation program could soon earn additional income through a new partnership between the Ohio Department of Agriculture and agricultural technology company Indigo Ag.

State officials say the initiative combines public conservation efforts with private investment to reward farmers for environmental stewardship while continuing to improve Ohio’s water quality.

Governor Mike DeWine announced the partnership, saying it strengthens the state’s ongoing commitment to protecting waterways while supporting Ohio’s agricultural industry.

More than 3,200 farmers across Ohio currently participate in the H2Ohio program, which encourages conservation practices that reduce nutrient runoff, improve soil health and help protect rivers, streams and lakes.

Many of those same farming practices also capture and store carbon in the soil.

Under the new agreement, Indigo Ag will verify eligible conservation practices already being implemented through H2Ohio. The company will then convert the stored carbon into carbon credits that can be sold to businesses looking to meet sustainability and environmental goals.

The additional revenue generated from those carbon credits will provide participating farmers with another source of income without requiring major changes to practices they already have in place.

Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge said the partnership recognizes farmers for their conservation efforts while strengthening the long-term success of the H2Ohio program.

Honda, which operates several manufacturing facilities in Ohio, is helping support the initiative as part of the company’s environmental sustainability efforts. Company officials say the program benefits both agriculture and the environment by promoting healthy soils and reducing carbon emissions.

Indigo Ag representatives said the collaboration demonstrates how conservation practices can create both environmental and economic benefits for Ohio’s farming communities.

Launched in 2019, H2Ohio is a statewide initiative aimed at improving water quality, reducing harmful algal blooms and protecting drinking water resources. While the agricultural program initially focused on northwest Ohio and the Lake Erie watershed, it has since expanded to additional regions across the state.