One of four area residents charged in connection with the death of a 4-year-old girl in Benton County more than a year ago is due in court.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says on December 20, 2020, authorities were called to a residence in regards to an unresponsive Jessica Mast. Authorities were told she had been beaten, submerged in a pond, then left to freeze on the bank before being taken back into the residence, where she later died. A 2-year-old male child and the girl’s mother Mary Mast also had been beaten to a severe extent.
Some of the charges for each of the four defendants in the case have been amended from original court documents.
Kourtney Aumen, of Lincoln, who is facing felony charges of second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, first-degree assault or attempt, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of armed criminal action, pleaded not guilty on April 21, 2021. Her case was bound over to the trial division on October 29. Her attorney filed a motion for a change of venue request on December 10. She is being held without bond.
On January 4, Aumen’s request for change of venue was sustained by the court and moved to Webster County. Her next hearing is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, at Webster County Circuit Court.
On June 1, 2021, Mary Mast, of Eldon, waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty to felony charges of second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, first-degree assault or attempt, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of armed criminal action. She posted $500,000 surety bond on February 2, 2021.
The deceased girl’s father, James Mast, of Lincoln, is charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child, first-degree assault or attempt, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death and two counts of armed criminal action. He pleaded not guilty on December 28, 2020, and posted $500,000 surety bond on January 20, 2021.
Preliminary hearings for both James and Mary Mast are scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 1.
On June 1, 2021, Ethan Mast, of Lincoln, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault or attempt, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of armed criminal action. On February 23, Mast withdrew his not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal. No other information is available at this time.
Photo courtesy the Benton County Sheriff’s Department