Mother Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter In 2-Year-Old's Death

NORRISTOWN, PA -- A Bridgeport mother has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the July 2015 death of her two-year-old daughter in King of Prussia.

The daughter of Christina Griffith, 35, of Bridgeport, was found dead on July 30, 2015 at a Motel 6 in King of Prussia, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office said.

Griffith’s Subutex and Klonopin pills, for which she had a prescription, fell to the floor at some point during the night.

When Upper Merion police arrived at about 10:55 a.m., two-year-old Trinity Griffith had ingested the pills and was dead.

Griffith allegedly saw her daughter ingest the pills, but did not immediately call for help, the DA’s office said.

Timely medical treatment would have saved Trinity’s life, doctors said.

“Christina Griffith was reckless and grossly negligent in failing to seek treatment for Trinity Griffith, which she had a legal parental duty to do, thus she is responsible for her daughter’s death,” said Kevin Steele, Montgomery County District Attorney.

A forensic pathologist’s autopsy revealed both of the drugs in her system: buprenorphine (brand name Subutex), a medication used to treat narcotic addiction, and clonazepam (brand name Klonopin), an anti-anxiety medication.

Griffith has previously spent time in prison for theft by deception and receiving stolen property, according to criminal dockets.

Griffith was arraigned on Wednesday morning and bail was set at $500,000 cash.

A preliminary hearing has been set for February 3.

Image courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.