GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A mother is in jail after she allegedly suffocated her 2-year-old daughter.

At the same time, police are investigating whether the woman might be responsible for one of her other children’s deaths four years earlier.

Irene Aiyana Whitehead is being held without bond at the Kent County Jail in connection to the death of Ryleigh Whitehead.

“Horrific” was one word a judge used to describe the allegations against the 27-year-old mother who faces charges of felony murder and first-degree child abuse.

Ryleigh died in September. Charges against Whitehead weren’t filed until three months later after the woman allegedly revealed to detectives disturbing details about how Ryleigh died.

Whitehead told police her daughter experienced some type of “breathing episode” that cause

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