Mother leads police to 5-year-old son found dead with plastic bag over his head

A Montana woman allegedly suffocated her 5-year-old son with a plastic bag, claiming she needed to "protect him because things would have worsened."

Kathryn Garaas is facing charges of intentional homicide for the death of Reign Tyler Blair at their residence near Whitehall, approximately 60 miles from Bozeman.

Based on reports from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrived on the afternoon of April 24 for a medical call. 

A probable cause affidavit obtained by local CBS affiliate KRTV revealed that the boy's father had requested a welfare check due to a distressing message received from Garaas.

Upon opening the door for law enforcement, Garaas stated, "he's in his room."

Officers discovered the boy in his room with a plastic bag over his head, as indicated in the affidavit. He was pronounced deceased.

Garaas reportedly confessed to the police that she took her son's life because she believed she needed to "protect him as things would have turned much worse."

Colleen Much, who launched a GoFundMe campaign for Reign's family, mentioned in a conversation with KRTV that Garaas had been estranged from the family.

However, she had been residing with the boy and his dad for several weeks prior to the incident without any issues.

"I cannot and will certainly not assert we have any understanding of the motives or events," Much expressed in the campaign description. "We hope for explanations that might never surface, and even when they do, healing seems improbable."

Much described Reign as a "dear, innocent, perfect, delightful little soul" cared for by his father.

"Reign is his reason, his affection, and his life ever since he was born," Much noted. "No words can capture the strength needed for a man to be a single father, and the life he built for Reign gives us comfort, knowing it was filled with affection, joy, and precious happiness."

Garaas is currently held at the Jefferson County Jail without bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.