Murder, manslaughter charges dropped against couple in co-sleeping death of toddler

BELL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT/Gray News) - Murder and manslaughter charges have been dropped against a couple in connection with the death of their 17-month-old child.

Loren Gage had been charged with murder, while Dakota Spencer had been charged with manslaughter after the death of their child last year.

The cause of death was “asphyxia consistent with co-sleeping with an adult on a couch,” according to the medical examiner.

After reviewing the evidence, including surveillance video from the night the child died, officials do not believe “there is evidence to support the manslaughter and murder charges,” according to a motion filed on Friday.

Mike Taylor, an attorney who was prosecuting the case, said that around midnight on July 30, 2025, Gage was “extraordinarily intoxicated” and fell asleep on the couch with the child against the back of the couch.

Taylor told the Lexington Herald Leader that Gage woke up at one point to smoke a cigarette before going back to sleep, at which point the child is believed to have already been dead. Gage did not appear to realize what happened until around 7 a.m. that morning.

Police performed life-saving measures on the child, who was taken to the hospital and later died that same day.

Gage and Spencer were later arrested.