Beatrice couple charged with child death, now charged with sexual assault in separate case

BEATRICE, Neb. (KOLN) – A Beatrice couple charged in the death of a 4-month-old baby are now accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in a separate case.

Austin Meyn, 27, and Ashlen Zitel, 27, are both charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child and intentional child abuse.

Affidavits in the case have been sealed, but details from the complaint filed in Gage County Court say the couple sexually abused the teen sometime between March 1 and Aug. 15.

Meyn and Zitel were arrested last month after a baby suffered a broken rib and a brain hemorrhage that led to his death on August 15.

Police learned that Meyn Zitel was watching two children when he called them at work and said the baby was unresponsive. The child was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

An autopsy revealed non-accidental trauma, including signs of shaken baby syndrome. According to the affidavit, Meyn, frustrated by the baby’s crying, allegedly laid him face down to restrict his breathing.

Meyn is accused of intentional child abuse resulting in death, while Zitel is accused of negligent child abuse resulting in death.

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