Infant survives being trapped 3 days under dead father

PLEASANT HILL, La. (AP) - A 10-month-old infant is being treated at University Health in Shreveport after being trapped underneath the decomposing body of her father for up to three days.

Sabine Parish Deputy Coroner Ron Rivers told The Times the infant, Betty Jean Fields, was dehydrated and suffering from blistering skin. He said the baby also had a noticeably dark indentation on the right side of her forehead from being wedged against the wall and under the body of her father, Jason Fields, 43.

"It looked like he was sitting on the side of the bed on his computer, fell backward and died," Rivers said. "The fact that he fell on her and made no attempt to get up tells me he died instantly when he fell on top of her."

Sabine Parish sheriff's deputies were called to the Fields' home Friday in Pleasant Hill after the infant's 5-year-old brother went next door to tell neighbors he thought his father was dead.

Rivers said he found Fields on the bed. His body was in an advanced state of decomposition, leaving Rivers to speculate Fields had been dead several days.

Fields had a history of cardiac problems, Rivers said. No autopsy will be performed because of the condition of the body. There were no signs of trauma.

Box fans were the only source of cooling in the home.

The older child was checked out and did not suffer any injuries. Rivers did not interview the boy so he was uncertain how he coped during the days before he went for help.

Meanwhile, Fields' wife was incarcerated in the Sabine Parish women's jail with only a few more days to serve. Details of her crime were not provided and authorities have not released her name.