Bridgeport Woman Accused Of Manslaughter In Death Of Baby: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A 61-year-old Bridgeport woman was arrested on a warrant by Bridgeport police Tuesday on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the 2021 death of the woman's 4-week-old granddaughter, according to authorities.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Eleanor Herman was also charged with risk of injury to a child in connection with the infant's death on Feb. 21, 2021.

The incident began at about 4:30 p.m. on the 21st, when Bridgeport police were notified that an infant at a home on Bronx Avenue was not breathing.

"The baby girl was transported to an area hospital by her adult uncle prior to police arrival," said Capt. Kevin Gilleran in a statement. "Medical staff at the hospital pronounced the baby deceased at 4:32 pm. The baby was only 4 weeks old when she passed away. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was homicide (ingestion of drugs). Cause of death was acute intoxication from the combined effects of Fentanyl and Para-Fluorofentanyl."

During the investigation into the baby girl's death, Bridgeport detectives determined that the maternal grandmother, Herman, "was the immediate and sole caregiver for the deceased infant child for more than three hours leading up to her death."

Gilleran said that Herman "has a history of heroin abuse and resided with her infant granddaughter at the time of her death."

Bridgeport Homicide Det. Jeffrey Holtz obtained an arrest warrant for Herman on Jan. 18, 2024, which led to her being taken into custody on Tuesday.

Herman is being held in lieu of bail of $250,000, and is scheduled to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Wednesday.