Skip to main content

Parents of four-year-old Missouri girl who was 'beaten to death and plunged into icy pond by her neighbors' plead not guilty to child endangerment - as judges BANS them from attending her funeral

The parents of a four-year-old Missouri girl allegedly killed by her neighbors have pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment. 

Mary Mast, 29, and James Mast, 28, entered the pleas on Monday - eight days after their little girl, Jessica, was found dead at their home in Lincoln.  

Investigators assert that Jessica was killed by neighbors Ethan Mast (no relation) and Kourtney Aumen during a 'religious-type episode'. 

The parents and the neighbors were members of the same church, which has not been publicly identified.  

It's believed Jessica was severely beaten and dunked in an icy pond by both Ethan Mast and Aumen, who were trying to remove a 'demon' from insider her. 

The pair have now been charged with second-degree murder, assault and sexual abuse. 

Jessica was found dead on December 20, her body covered in blisters and 'severe purple bruising'. 

Her parents have been denied permission to attend her funeral and they remain behind bars pending a bond hearing on January 5th. 

Four-year-old Jessica Mast (pictured) was found dead at her home in Lincoln, Missouri last week. She had allegedly been beaten by neighbors Ethan Mast and  Kourtney Aumen before they plunged her into an icy pond. Jessica's parents, James and Mary, have now pleaded not guilty to child endangerment charges

Four-year-old Jessica Mast was found dead at her home in Lincoln, Missouri last week. She had allegedly been beaten by neighbors Ethan Mast and  Kourtney Aumen before they plunged her into an icy pond. Jessica's parents, James and Mary, have now pleaded not guilty to child endangerment charges 

James A. Mast, 28Mary S. Mast, 29

Mary Mast , 29, and James Mast , 28, have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment charges - eight days after their little girl, Jessica, was found dead at their home in Lincoln,Missouri 

According to The Daily Beast, James Mast told investigators that young Jessica had been beaten by Ethan Mast and Aumen for around two weeks before she died. 

He and his wife were also allegedly forced to perform 'sex acts' on their little girl with a 'foreign object' or they too would be beaten or shot. 

Ethan Mast and Aumen are said to have set up surveillance cameras inside James and Mary Mast's home in order to watch them and make sure they complied with the demands.  

However, the cameras were reportedly switched off when the neighbors arrived at the home and beat Jessica themselves. 

The New York Daily News reports that Ethan Mast allegedly confessed that he and Aumen used a leather belt to beat the four-year-old on December 19.  

She was then taken to a pond behind the home where she was 'dunked' in the water on a day when high temperatures were in the 40s.

Ethan Mast said everyone then returned to the victims' home. It wasn't clear when Jessica died.

Ethan MastKourtney Aumen

Ethan Mast, 35, and Kourtney Aumen, 21, were charged with second-degree murder, assault and sexual abuse for allegedly torturing their neighbor's four-year-old girl, Jessica

A statement from Benton County Sgt Chris Wilson said Jessica was already dead when he was called to the home the following day. 

Mary Mast reportedly admitted that she also participated in dunkingher daughter in the pond.

She claims her neighbors convinced her that she also was possessed with a demon and that she had passed the bad spirit on to young Jessica. 

'This has been a huge God thing that they convinced us of,' Mary allegedly told investigators. 

While James and Mary Mast may have been brainwashed by their neighbors, Sgt Wilson still asked the parents 'how they could let people do this to their family.'

'I have received many letters, calls and emails of concern regarding this child's death and the surrounding circumstances to be the actions of a cult,' Knox said last Thursday.  

Meanwhile, James and Mary Mast's two younger children have now been placed into foster care. 

A candlelight vigil was held in Lincoln on Monday night in order to remember young Jessica. KY3 shared footage of the event. 

The town, with about 19,000 residents, is located 100 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri. 

'When a crime of this magnitude occurs, it affects everyone in its aftermath from first responders to next of kin, community and beyond,' Knox stated. 

A candlelight vigil was held in Lincoln on Monday night in order to remember young Jessica. KY3 shared footage of the event

A candlelight vigil was held in Lincoln on Monday night in order to remember young Jessica. KY3 shared footage of the event

Lincoln, a town with about 19,000 residents, is located 100 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri

Lincoln, a town with about 19,000 residents, is located 100 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o