Bonner Springs ? A woman accused of killing her infant daughter by banging her head against a clothes dryer has been ordered to stand trial for murder.

Stephanie D. Thomas, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 10-week-old daughter, Avalon.

Wyandotte County District Judge Ernest Johnson ruled Monday there was enough evidence in the case to warrant a trial.

Police said that on the night of Oct. 19, Thomas took a prescription sleep aid along with some of her husband’s muscle relaxant.

According to Detective Victoria Hamrick, Thomas said she heard Avalon crying later that night and woke up. Thomas then said she banged the infant’s head “two, maybe three” times against the dryer, and then returned to bed, thinking the baby was fine, Hamrick said.

A forensic pathologist, Erik Mitchell, who performed an autopsy on Avalon, said that the infant had three areas of fresh bruising and a skull fracture.

He also said she had very high levels of diphenhydramine, commonly sold under the name Benadryl, in her system.

Mitchell said that both the injuries and the Benadryl probably contributed to Avalon’s death.

When Thomas awoke the next morning, she found Avalon face down in a bassinet by the dryer and called 911.

Thomas’ husband testified that they sometimes laid the baby on top of the dryer and let the steady motion lull her to sleep.

He also said that a doctor had suggested giving her Benadryl to help her sleep.