Couple who Took Dead Baby to Brewster Motel Indicted

A couple who prosecutors allege killed their baby in the Bronx, drove to Brewster and spent the night in a local hotel, and then left the body in a wooded area off Route 22, have been indicted in connection to the death.

The father faces two counts of second-degree murder, a count of first-degree manslaughter and concealment of a human corpse. The mother faces a charge of second-degree manslaughter, a charge of concealment of a human corpse, and a charge of criminally negligent homicide. All are felonies.

Here is the Bronx DA’s complete statement:

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announces the indictment of JOSE “Alex” FELICIANO and DANIELLE WHYTE in the death of their seven-week-old son, MASON TYLER FELICIANO, after which they are accused of transporting the child’s body to Putnam, and then Dutchess County, where they left him in a wooded area.

In separate proceedings today, JOSE “Alex” FELICIANO pled not guilty before Justice Margaret Clancy to:

• Murder in the 2nd Degree (Class A-I Felony, 2 counts)
• Manslaughter in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony)
• Concealment of a Human Corpse (Class C Felony)

DANIELLE WHYTE pled not guilty before Justice Margaret Clancy to:

• Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)
• Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class E Felony)
• Concealment of a Human Corpse (Class C Felony)

If convicted on all charges, the 51-year-old FELICIANO faces 25 years to life in prison; DANIELLE WHYTE, age 31, faces up to 15 years behind bars.

It is alleged that, on or about December 10th, 2015, JOSE FELICIANO applied blunt force trauma to his baby’s head. While the child was still alive, neither parent called 911 or elsewhere for help. Instead, it is further alleged that once the baby died at their home on Bogart Avenue in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, they drove to Brewster, NY. That night, they checked in to Heidi’s Inn on Route 22. It is also alleged that the parents drove into Dover in Dutchess County, that weekend, where they disposed of the body.

FELICIANO was remanded to jail, and his case was adjourned until March 29th in Part 79. WHYTE was also remanded; her bail will be decided in Part 79 on Friday, January 29th at Noon.

The cases against DANIELLE WHYTE and JOSE “Alex” FELICIANO are being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Jill Starishevsky and Erin Yavener of the Bronx DA Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau.

An indictment is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.