News release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

After an 11-month investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance from Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), State and county medical examiner’s office and the Fayette County Attorney’s Office, criminal charges were filed on Joshua Rueben Christen, 33, of Postville for child endangerment causing death, a Class B felony, of his 4-month-old daughter.

 On Sept. 2, 2022, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office along with the Elgin Ambulance service responded to a residence on 245^th Street North of Elgin for 4-month-old female unresponsive and not breathing. The child was transported to Palmer Hospital in West Union where she was pronounced dead.

After an investigation, it was determined that Christen, while in care of the child was under the influence of a narcotic. An autopsy revealed that the child had methamphetamine in her system at the time of death. It was determined that the defendant knowingly acted in a manor that created the death of his daughter by the means of asphyxiation.

Joshua Christen has been in the Fayette County Jail since May 3 of 2023 on unrelated charges and is awaiting his initial appearance in court on the new charges. If convicted could he face up to 50 years in prison. This case remains under investigation and more charges may be filed at a later date.