A Pennsylvania woman has been taken into custody after allegedly researching dangerous household items for months, leading to the death of her boyfriend’s 1-year-old daughter. The state’s top prosecutor revealed that the child, who tragically passed away in June, had ingested batteries, a metal screw, and water beads.
Aleisia Owens, aged 20, now faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle A. Henry. “The details of this case are heartbreaking,” stated Henry. “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.”
The autopsy report confirmed that the cause of the child’s death was acetone poisoning, resulting in organ failure. It was determined that the little girl had been exposed to acetone shortly before her hospitalization. Medical experts concluded that the 1-year-old’s death was a homicide.
Prior to the tragic incident, Owens had extensively searched the internet on her cellphone for information on household products that could harm or cause the death of a child. Her searches included topics such as “beauty products that are poisonous to kids” and “medications leading to accidental poisoning deaths in children.”
New Castle Police Chief Robert Salem expressed his pride in the tireless efforts of the officers, detectives, and agents involved in the investigation. “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.
Owens has been denied bail due to the severity of the homicide charges brought against her. The Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office referred the case to the attorney general’s office for prosecution.
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