A Pennsylvania woman accused of researching dangerous household items for months has been arrested in connection with the death and alleged poisoning of her boyfriend’s 1-year-old child.
The girl, who died in June, consumed batteries, a metal screw, and water beads, the state’s chief prosecutor said Thursday.
Aleisia Owens, 20, has been charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle A. Henry’s statement.
“The details of this case are heartbreaking,” the AG said. “It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened. The investigation shows that, for months, the defendant conducted meticulous research on how certain substances harm children.”
It wasn’t immediately known Friday afternoon whether Owens had a counsel.
The girl, Iris Alfera, died on June 29, four days after being admitted to the hospital, according to the AG.
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was acetone intoxication, which resulted in organ failure. “Medical experts who examined the baby’s body concluded that the child was exposed to acetone just before her hospitalization,” Henry told the newspaper.
The medical examiner determined that the 1-year-old died as a result of homicide.
According to officials, the youngster consumed approximately 20 “water beads,” button-shaped batteries, and a metal screw before his death.
According to the attorney general, in the months leading up to the girl’s murder, Owens used her cellphone to search the internet for information about home goods that can damage or kill a kid.
Her searches included “beauty products that are poisonous to children” and “medications that can cause accidental poisoning deaths in children,” according to the statement.
New Castle Police Chief Robert Salem said in a statement that police worked “tirelessly” on the case with prosecutors from the attorney general’s office to make an arrest.
“I am extremely proud of the officers, detectives, and agents who were involved in investigating this complex case and arresting the person who was responsible for the child’s death,” Salem said.
According to Henry, Owens has been denied bail due to homicide charges. The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office forwarded the matter to the attorney general’s office for prosecution, Henry stated.
