GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A 24-year-old Howard man who suffocated his 14-month-old daughter while asleep after using drugs and alcohol has pleaded no contest to a charge of child neglect.

Matthew Malchow told authorities he fell asleep on the couch Dec. 6 with his daughter on his chest and awoke to find her next to him and against the back of the couch. The toddler wasn’t breathing. Malchow’s mother called 911.
Forensic pathologist Mark Witeck has testified he found broken blood vessels in the child’s lungs and thymus gland, an indication of suffocation.

A blood test showed Malchow’s blood-alcohol level was 0.055 percent about two hours later. Tests also found evidence of cocaine in his bloodstream.

Malchow will be sentenced Feb. 6.

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