Four-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Beaten and Dunked in Freezing Pond as Neighbors Claim They Were Trying to Remove a “Demon”

A heartbreaking case involving the death of a four-year-old girl has resurfaced after a Missouri woman admitted her role in the child’s killing. Jessica Joy Mast died in December 2020 after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of two neighbors who reportedly claimed that a “demon” had to be removed from her family.

Kourtney Taylor Aumen, now 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree assault in connection with Jessica’s death. Her plea came years after the little girl was found dead inside her family home, bringing renewed attention to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

According to investigators, Jessica and her two-year-old brother were subjected to severe beatings. Prosecutors said Aumen and her neighbor, Ethan Mast, 41, believed Jessica’s mother was possessed by a demon and warned that the children could become possessed as well. The adults allegedly used this belief to justify what they described as attempts to discipline the children.

The abuse reportedly escalated to the point that Jessica was repeatedly forced beneath the freezing water of a nearby farm pond. Temperatures were hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, approximately 4 degrees Celsius, when the little girl was dunked into the icy water. Investigators also reported that she had been beaten with a belt.

Jessica’s parents, James and Mary Mast, were allegedly threatened with violence if they attempted to intervene. According to statements provided to investigators, the neighbors threatened to beat or shoot them if they tried to stop the punishment. The allegations have raised deeply troubling questions about how the abuse was allowed to continue and why the adults in the household were unable to protect the children.

The horrifying situation came to light in December 2020, when a Benton County sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a possible domestic disturbance at the family’s home in Missouri. Inside, the deputy was led upstairs, where Jessica was found lying motionless on the floor beside a set of bunk beds. She was wrapped in a pink blanket, and she was already dead when officers arrived.

Authorities described extensive injuries on the child’s body, including bruising and open wounds consistent with severe abuse. Investigators also found vomit nearby, while Jessica’s hair was still wet from the pond. The details painted a devastating picture of the final hours of a child who should have been safe in the care of adults.

Jessica’s father told investigators that Aumen and Ethan Mast were responsible for the injuries inflicted on members of his family. The child’s mother had also reportedly been assaulted during the incident. Benton County Sheriff Eric Knox later described the case as a disturbing, “religious-type episode,” reflecting the beliefs that investigators said were used to justify the violence.

Aumen initially faced several serious charges, including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, child abuse and child endangerment. She has now admitted to second-degree murder and first-degree assault under a plea agreement. She is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2026, and faces a lengthy prison term.

Ethan Mast has also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Jessica’s death. The child’s parents faced charges as well. James Mast pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree assault in 2024, but later attempted to withdraw his plea. A judge rejected that request in April 2025, and subsequent legal filings have sought to challenge the plea. Mary Mast pleaded guilty to child endangerment in 2023.

Although Aumen’s guilty plea represents a significant development in the case, it cannot undo the loss suffered by Jessica’s family. The case has also drawn attention to the devastating consequences that can follow when harmful beliefs are used to justify violence against vulnerable children.

For Jessica, the tragedy ended the life of a little girl who was only four years old. For those seeking accountability, the upcoming sentencing will mark another major moment in a case that has haunted the community since 2020.

Source: The Sun