Florida Parents Charged With Killing 6-Year-Old Son for Not Going to Bed When Asked

A Florida mom was charged Tuesday with helping her boyfriend kill their 6-year-old son on Christmas Eve, NBC News reported.

Ashley Cole, 22, of Englewood, Florida. (Image source: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office)

The two allegedly smothered the child, causing him to suffocate, while they played video games.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Ashley Cole, 22, trapped her son’s feet behind her back while her 270-pound boyfriend pinned him down.

Cole has been charged with principal to aggravated manslaughter of a child. Cole’s boyfriend, who is also the boy’s father, James “Rick” Dearman, 31, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child last week.

James "Rick" Dearman, 31, of Englewood, Florida. (Image source: Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office)

The couple’s son, James “Jimmy” Dearman, died in their Englewood home the evening of Christmas Eve.

Officers elaborated on the circumstances that led to the brutal killing in an affidavit. Jimmy and his 7-year-old sister reportedly had been told to face the wall after refusing to go to bed when asked. When the punishment did not achieve the results the parents wanted, Cole asked Dearman to "elevate the punishment … to squishing," she told officers.

According to police records, both parents weigh more than 200 pounds.

"His son screamed that he couldn't breathe and begged to use the bathroom, eventually urinating on the couch and becoming unconscious," a statement from the sheriff's office released at the time of Dearman's arrest last week read.

After the “nose-to-wall” punishment escalated into something much more gruesome, the couple reportedly left their 6-year-old on the couch and smoked a cigarette in the garage, the affidavit said.

When they returned 10 minutes later, the pair noticed that their child's lips were blue and he was not breathing. According to the document, Cole ran back into the garage to pray while Dearman called 911 and attempted to perform CPR until paramedics arrived.

Their 7-year-old daughter was uninjured and taken into protective custody.

Cole and Dearman received bonds set at $1 million each. Their arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 5.

(H/T: NBC News)