Western PA Woman Accused Of Killing Boyfriend's 1-Year-Old Daughter

NEW CASTLE, PA — A woman has been arrested in connection with the abuse and death of her boyfriend's one-year-old daughter.

Aleisia Owens, 20, is charged with criminal homicide regarding the baby’s death in June 2023, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry's office announced on Thursday. Owens is also charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child and other offenses connected to the baby's death.

In June, first responders were called to the home of Bailey Jacoby, where he lived with Owens. Upon arrival, first responders found Jacoby’s one-year-old daughter unresponsive. She was airlifted to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she died several days later.

The medical examiner determined that the child’s death was the result of fatal levels of acetone in her blood at the time of death, and ruled it a homicide. Investigators learned that in months before the baby’s death, the child ingested numerous “water beads,” along with button-shaped batteries, and a metal screw

Investigators discovered that Owens had been researching online the harm that water beads and batteries can cause children prior to the child ingesting the items.