Mother charged with reckless homicide

More than four years after the death of her 4-month-old baby, a Rhinelander woman was charged last week with first-degree reckless homicide.

Geana L. Terry, 37, made her initial appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon before Judge Mary Sowinski.

After setting bail at $100,000 cash, Sowinski explained that she was recusing herself from further proceedings due to familiarity with the case gained as a result of her prior role as an assistant district attorney in Oneida County.

However, before formally withdrawing, Sowinski took the unusual step of ordering that the criminal complaint be sealed “so the privacy of some of the individuals involved can be protected.”

In its place, she directed district attorney Jillian Pfeifer to file a summary of the allegations. That document will not be sealed, the judge said.

Because the original complaint was filed with the Oneida County Clerk of Court prior to the bail hearing, the River News had an opportunity to review it before it was sealed. 

It’s common practice for the newspaper to review newly filed felony complaints as such records are open to the public unless a judge orders them sealed, an uncommon occurrence.

After the bail hearing, the newspaper advised the district attorney’s office that the complaint had been seen prior to the sealing order. 

The newspaper also advised that this story would be prepared with respect for the court’s concerns regarding the dissemination of sensitive information.

According to the complaint, it was the recent disclosure of new information that prompted the district attorney’s office to file the reckless homicide charge more than four years after the infant’s death on May 6, 2020.

The complaint states an individual who was in the residence on the day the infant died recently disclosed to a trusted person that they had witnessed the infant being suffocated. 

After the trusted person reported the conversation to police, the witness corroborated the information and advised that they had been threatened to keep silent regarding what they had witnessed.

This information prompted officers to re-interview Terry who denied harming her child.

In court Thursday without an attorney, the defendant indicated she cannot post $100,000 cash.

A status conference is set for early November, however a new date may be needed to accommodate the new judge’s calendar.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].