PA Woman Fed Infant Batteries, Beads, Leading To Baby's Death: AG

NEW CASTLE, PA — A Pennsylvania woman is facing murder charges after state prosecutors said her boyfriend's infant daughter died from ingesting water beads, batteries and a metal screw while in her care.

Aleisia Owens, 20, was charged with criminal homicide in connection with the June 2023 death of 1-year-old Iris Alfera, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said in a release. She was also charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, child endangerment, and other offenses, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, first responders were called to the baby's father's home, where he lived with Owens. When first responders arrived, they found the infant unresponsive and took her to the hospital for treatment.

The baby was taken by helicopter to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she died on June 29, prosecutors said.

A medical examiner later ruled the baby's death a homicide after finding fatal levels of acetone in her blood during an autopsy, which caused organ failure, prosecutors said.

Investigators learned the child had ingested about 20 water beads, which are found in toys and crafts and can be harmful to children if swallowed. According to prosecutors, she also ingested button-shaped batteries and a metal screw.

Prosecutors said in the months before the child's death, Owens repeatedly searched for information online on household products that could cause a child serious harm or death to children, including water beads, batteries, and nail polish.

According to prosecutors, Owens' searches included phrases including "beauty products that are poisonous to kids" and "medications leading to cause accidental poisoning deaths in children."

"The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened," Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement.

Owens remains in jail after she was denied bail, prosecutors said.