Women Pleas No Contest To Not Reporting Child's Death

The 29-year-old Wagner woman who lived at the home where a two-year-old girl was found dead in the closet last summer has pleaded guilty to several charges.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says Laurie Cournoyer has pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a place where controlled substances are used and entered a no contest plea to failure to report the death of a child.

Cournoyer was arrested on those charges following the discovery of two-year-old RieLee Lovell’s body in the closet of her Wagner home. Investigators believe Lovell’s body was in the closet for nearly 24 hours before it was found.

Documents say Laurie and her husband, 21-year-old Taylor Cournoyer, had used meth and marijuana in the hours leading up to the discovery of Lovell’s body.

Taylor Cournoyer was sentenced to 13 years in prison back in November on meth charges in connection with the case.

An 11 year old is also charged as a juvenile in connection with the death.

Laurie Cournoyer also pleaded guilty to possessing meth in jail. She faces 30 years in prison and will be sentenced in March.