Woman Fails to Appear at Sentence Hearing, Arrest Warrant to be Issued

By: 10/11 News Email

Updated: Thu 6:18 PM, Mar 21, 2013

A 24-year-old Lincoln woman failed to appear at her sentencing in Lancaster County District Court Thursday in connection with the death of a 12-year-old Serena Garrett.

Ashley Jackson's failure to appear can carry a sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment. A warrant for her arrest will be issued by 5 p.m.

Jackson faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine in the child abuse case of Serena Garrett who died of a drug overdose in March.

Jackson brought Serena Garrett to her home in March to babysit Jackson's twin infants. But police say Jackson smoked methamphetamine and supplied the girl and other people at her house with alcohol and drugs.

Police say after Jackson left, Serena was sexually assaulted by a 20-year-old man, then died of a prescription drug overdose.

Police say Jackson hired Garrett and another 13-year-old girl to babysit her one-year-old twin boys for two nights, March 23 and 24. On the second night, they say Jackson gave the girls permission to have friends over.

Police say she drove two 14-year-old boys and Andrew Walker to her house.

According to reports, Jackson bought the teens alcohol and gave them marijuana. It shows she also smoked methamphetamine with Walker before leaving for the night.

Walker told police Garrett took several prescription pills during the night, before she died. He also admitted he took some methadone pills and that the other teens took prescription pills.

Police say Walker and Garrett had sexual contact during the night and a 13-year-old witnessed the incident.

According to the report, Walker later told the 13-year-old what happened.

When Jackson returned home, Garrett was found unresponsive. The teens put Garrett in a cold shower, but were not able to revive her.

The police report shows about 30 minutes passed from when Garrett was discovered to when 911 was called.