Michigan mom first says her kids have rare virus. Then she’s arrested for their murder

Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of child abuse and murder. Please take care while reading.

On November 25, 2025, Michigan police arrested 27-year-old Michigan mom, Irene Whitehead, on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse, alleging she suffocated her two-year-old daughter, despite previously claiming the child had a rare and deadly virus. 

In September 2025, authorities responded to a 911 call at Whitehead’s home in Cedar Springs, a suburb of Grand Rapids, where they found Irene’s daughter, Ryleigh Whitehead, unresponsive and not breathing. First responders pronounced the child dead at the scene. According to CBS News, Whitehead was the only adult present when emergency responders arrived. 

From worried mother to accused murderer

Two years earlier, in 2023, Irene told local media that Ryleigh battled a rare virus and even offered “advice for parents of sick children.” In 2021, Ryleigh’s brother, Leonard, died at 2 months old, also due to a rare virus, described as “parainfluenza viral-type pneumonia.”

Initially, the media portrayed Irene as a worried mother facing an unexplained medical crisis after she publicly claimed her children were battling parainfluenza. Community sympathy grew as she spoke about losing Leonard. Reports say Irene launched several GoFundMe campaigns to cover medical costs.

Whitehead “just wanted it to stop”

In the months following Ryleigh’s death, investigators from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Child Protective Services conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances. In November, authorities took Irene into custody. Court records indicate she confessed to repeatedly suffocating Ryleigh with a bag. She allegedly admitted she “wanted her to die,” saying she “couldn’t take it anymore” and “just wanted it to stop.” 

Shockingly, during her police interview, Whitehead also confessed to killing Ryleigh’s infant brother, Leonard, a death that until now, authorities attributed to the same virus Irene said Ryleigh had.

Investigators flagged a written confession Whitehead signed on November 25, stating simply: “I killed them.” The statement referenced both Ryleigh and Leonard. Investigators say video evidence found during the probe includes footage reportedly showing one of Whitehead’s older children pleading, “You never even wanted me … I know you want me to die.”

According to Grand Rapids news outlet WOOD, Irene repeatedly sought medical help for Ryleigh, claiming the child had breathing problems. Investigators think those episodes could have resulted from attempted strangulation.

As WOOD reports, a detective asked Irene, “Why did you keep putting Ryleigh in the hospital? Was that because you were doing that to make her look sick so later on you could kill her?” She responded, “I wanted to kill her,” and went on to say she wanted to kill her since she was born. Further evidence against Irene, she reportedly told investigators she searched “how hard is it to prove if cause of death is suffocation by bag in toddler,” after Ryleigh died.

Whitehead remains held at the Kent County Correctional Facility on $5 million bond. A judge revoked and denied the bond. She is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on December 10. Prosecutors have not yet filed charges in Leonard’s 2021 death, but say the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are possible. According to multiple reports, Irene had four children, including Leonard and Ryleigh. Reports say Leonard and Ryleigh’s paternity is undetermined.