Mother accepts plea deal in case concerning December 2020 death of 4 year old daughter

Warsaw, Missouri: On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Mary Mast entered a guilty plea to a single charge of first-degree child endangerment, a charge stemming from the abuse found on her son following the death of 4-year-old Jessica Mast.

As a result of the plea deal the remaining seven charges against her including first-degree murder will be dropped by the persecution.

Part of the plea deal requires that Mast testify against her co-defendants in the case. Mary will not be sentenced until after the other cases are resolved at which time the prosecution has said that they will recommend a five year sentence, the minimum allowed for conviction on a charge of first-degree child endangerment.

In total, four people were charged following Jessica's death. Mast, along with her husband, James Mast were both charged on December 24, 2020. Neighbors, Kourtney Aumen and Ethan Mast, no relation, were also charged after investigators learned that the abuse was allegedly conducted at Aumen's encouragement with the assistance of Ethan in order to keep a "demon" from inhabiting the children.

In February 2022, Ethan Mast plead guilty to the charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault that had been filed against him.

The plea was part of a plea deal, the details of which have not been released. The deal was made following the second-degree murder charge being upgraded to first-degree murder. By entering a guilty plea, he admitted his role in Jessica's death in what investigators called a "religious-type episode."

James Mast was scheduled to appear in court later in the day yesterday and Aumen is scheduled to be in court on January 9, 2023.