A Pennsylvania woman gave her boyfriend's 18-month-old daughter batteries, screws and nail polish remover after researching the harmful effects they could have on children before killing her. He is accused of ingesting a deadly poison.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said an autopsy determined that Alecia Owens, 20, died from a fatal amount of acetone in Iris Rita Alfera's blood. He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing Rita Alfera. announced.
Owens was living with Iris Rita Alfera's father, Bailey Jacoby, when he left home to go to the store on June 25, 2023.
Mr. Jacoby, who had visitation rights with Iris, received a call from Iris that something was wrong with his daughter.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by police, the man ran into the New Castle home, found the baby girl unresponsive and immediately called 911. WPIX.
Iris was rushed to UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle, Pennsylvania, for treatment, then airlifted to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, about an hour away.
The infant died four days later due to organ failure.
Iris Rita Alfera lived with her mother, Emily Alfera, and her grandparents, but her father, Jacoby, had visitation rights.
Owens told police the girl “twitched” and fell off the bed, hitting her head, according to the complaint.
However, an autopsy revealed that Iris Rita Alfera had ingested numerous “water beads” along with button batteries and metal screws in the months before her death, according to the attorney general's office.
A search of Ms Owens' phone revealed that between February 2023 and June 2023, she was looking for “information about household items that can cause serious harm or death to children, including water beads, batteries, and nail polish.” It turned out that
Police discovered she was also searching for “beauty products that are toxic to children” and “medications that cause accidental poisoning in children.”
Acetone is found in nail polish remover.
Newcastle Police Chief Robert Salem said the malicious findings left on Ms Owens' mobile phone were “significant evidence against her”.
“The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is difficult to imagine that someone would have taken deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child and mislead investigators about what happened,” Henry said. said in a statement.
“The investigation revealed that the defendant spent months conducting thorough research into how certain substances harmed children. It is said that he acted accordingly.”
Jacoby had been living with Owens for about a year before he allegedly killed her daughter.
Police did not arrest Ms Jacoby in connection with her daughter's death because “at this time there is absolutely no evidence linking him or anyone else to the baby's death,” Mr Salem told the Newcastle News. .
“Throughout the investigation, there was nothing that indicated he had any knowledge or involvement in what happened to the baby. He was questioned multiple times and was cooperative.”
In addition to being charged with murder, Owens is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault on a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and “other charges related to conduct that led to the infant's death and other abusive behavior several months ago.” He has also been charged with the crime of
The suspected child killer appeared before Judge Richard A. Russo on Thursday to read the charges, where she sat “dry-eyed and expressionless,” the New Castle News reported.
Owens was taken to the Lawrence County Jail and is being held without bail.
“I'm glad we finally got her arrested. That's the first step. It's going to be a long process in the court system,” the child's grandfather, Frank Alfera, told the outlet.
Emily Alfera, on the other hand, Post a heartbreaking memorial comment Since the murder charge, my daughter.
The day after Iris died, Emily Alfera said: “I have no words for what is happening to my beautiful angel baby. Never in my life did I think I would be saying goodbye to the biggest light in my life. There was no one there,” he posted on his Facebook page.
