Reno woman held after son’s death

Monday, May 8, 2000 | 2:24 a.m.

Heather Patterson, 24, was booked into the Washoe County Jail shortly after her son, Joshua Missey, died at a Reno hospital.

The suspect told police she had been using methamphetamine, causing her to fall asleep when the boy was left in a bathtub Friday morning at the MacGregor Inn.

When she later checked on her son, she found the bathtub full of water from a running shower and the baby not breathing.

The boy was taken to Washoe Medical Center, where he was removed from life support Sunday afternoon.

Patterson also was arrested on charges of possession and unlawful use of a controlled substance as well as child neglect causing substantial bodily harm or death.

The victim's 19-month-old brother also was found in the bathtub at the time. He has been placed in the temporary custody of the Social Services agency.

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