GJPD: Woman hid 3-year-old under bed days before death

A Grand Junction woman faces murder and kidnapping charges after police said she beat a 3-year-old girl, then hid her in closet for two weeks and under a bed just days before the toddler died.

According to court documents, Shanna Gossett, 29, was having a hard time controlling Bethannie Johnson, who was throwing herself down and hurting herself. Gosset told police she strapped Bethannie to a high chair and put her in a closet for two weeks, according to court documents.

Gossett was Bethannie's legal guardian and aunt.

Just before 8 a.m. on March 17, police said they were called to the 3000 block of North 14th Street, after the toddler was reported to be unconscious and not breathing.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Two days prior, Gossett told detectives she pushed Bethannie down the stairs because she was having a temper tantrum, causing her to hit her head on a vacuum.

Gossett said, according to an affidavit, Bethannie quit breathing and didn't get up.

Court records said Bethannie got up, the Shanna pushed Bethannie's head into a hall wall. Bethannie hit the wall, didn't get up and stopped breathing.

Police said Gossett attempted CPR, but Bethannie remained unresponsive.

Gossett told police Bethannie often had bruises because she threw herself into things as a result of detachment disorders.

An autopsy report showed Bethannie had bruises all over her body, and multiple severe head injuries, according to records. The result of death was blunt force trauma.

Gossett was booked into the Mesa County Jail and was charged with child abuse resulting in death, first degree murder, second degree kidnapping and false imprisonment. She was held without bail.