Special2bme
March 9th, 2009, 09:34 PM
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo35/Special2bme/news502_thumb.jpgThe mother of a slain 2-year-old Paint Township girl is facing felony charges in connection with the child’s death.
Ashley Elizabeth Heffner, 22, Crabapple Lane, was charged Friday with three counts of endangering the child and one felony count of hindering the investigation into the death.
Police said her live-in boyfriend, Richard Martin Hubler Jr., 30, punched Sandra Ferguson once in the head, thereby causing her death. He admitted to punching the girl and Heffner said she saw him do it. Hubler was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment Wednesday, following a joint investigation by Paint Township and state police.
Originally, the couple claimed that Ferguson was injured when she fell out of her crib. The charges against the mother stem from the ongoing treatment of the child and her initial support of the concocted story about how the girl was injured.
The affidavit of probable cause said that doctors determined Ferguson’s injuries were consistent with what they commonly call shaken baby syndrome.
“There are other signs of physical abuse and neglect to the victim. These signs of abuse and neglect appear to be from chronic neglect to the victim,” the court document states.
An investigation by Somerset County Children and Youth Services gathered evidence of the neglect, which included testimony from relatives, friends of the family and medical personnel.
Heffner is the mother of two other children, ages 3 and 1. Those children are currently in the care of relatives in DuBois, District Judge Joseph A. Cannoni said.
None of the children were taken for regular doctor visits and checkups. She is also pregnant with another child, according to court documents.
Born on Jan. 20, 2007, Ferguson received sporadic medical care and was not immunized until March 13, 2008, more than 13 months later.
More than 10 months would pass between doctor exams before Ferguson was diagnosed with a muscle condition known as hypotonia in April 2008. Even then she was not taken for recommended follow-ups and treatments.
The child’s condition caused her to have weakened muscles, poor motor skills and made her prone to falling out of bed.
The child was so weak that she could not walk without holding onto walls and had to be fed a diet of liquids and pudding. Heffner fed the girl by laying her on the floor and pouring the liquids down her throat.
Testimony also showed the girl was sometimes left unattended in a crib for an entire day, allowing the victim’s diapers and bed linens to saturate with feces and urine.
Hubler is accused of punching the girl Feb. 8 at their Paint Township residence. The blow caused brain injuries and the child was put on life support at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for 19 days. Doctors took her off life support on Feb. 26.
Despite the recent developments, more charges might be filed in the case. “To the best of my knowledge, the investigation is continuing,” District Attorney Jerry Spangler said.
The county and investigators are waiting on the results of several tests and are still gathering testimony and evidence, Spangler said. Among the unanswered questions are the results of an autopsy conducted on Feb. 27 by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The post-mortem examination showed the girl was possibly the victim of sexual abuse or injury, according to the report.
Heffner is being held in Somerset County Jail on $10,000 bond. If released, she is not allowed physical visitation with her other children unless permitted by the court.
A single felony count could result in a jail term of up to seven years, according to Cannoni.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Wednesday before Cannoni in Windber. Heffner has not retained an attorney.
(http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2009/03/09/news/news/news502.txt
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. -- A Paint Township man was charged with homicide after police said he punched his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in the head on Feb. 8, leaving her with brain injuries that put her on life support.
Richard Martin Hubler Jr., 30, of Crabapple Lane, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment when the girl was taken off life support 19 days later by doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, according to court documents.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/18855804/detail.html#SLANTLY_commentformheight::254
Ashley Elizabeth Heffner, 22, Crabapple Lane, was charged Friday with three counts of endangering the child and one felony count of hindering the investigation into the death.
Police said her live-in boyfriend, Richard Martin Hubler Jr., 30, punched Sandra Ferguson once in the head, thereby causing her death. He admitted to punching the girl and Heffner said she saw him do it. Hubler was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment Wednesday, following a joint investigation by Paint Township and state police.
Originally, the couple claimed that Ferguson was injured when she fell out of her crib. The charges against the mother stem from the ongoing treatment of the child and her initial support of the concocted story about how the girl was injured.
The affidavit of probable cause said that doctors determined Ferguson’s injuries were consistent with what they commonly call shaken baby syndrome.
“There are other signs of physical abuse and neglect to the victim. These signs of abuse and neglect appear to be from chronic neglect to the victim,” the court document states.
An investigation by Somerset County Children and Youth Services gathered evidence of the neglect, which included testimony from relatives, friends of the family and medical personnel.
Heffner is the mother of two other children, ages 3 and 1. Those children are currently in the care of relatives in DuBois, District Judge Joseph A. Cannoni said.
None of the children were taken for regular doctor visits and checkups. She is also pregnant with another child, according to court documents.
Born on Jan. 20, 2007, Ferguson received sporadic medical care and was not immunized until March 13, 2008, more than 13 months later.
More than 10 months would pass between doctor exams before Ferguson was diagnosed with a muscle condition known as hypotonia in April 2008. Even then she was not taken for recommended follow-ups and treatments.
The child’s condition caused her to have weakened muscles, poor motor skills and made her prone to falling out of bed.
The child was so weak that she could not walk without holding onto walls and had to be fed a diet of liquids and pudding. Heffner fed the girl by laying her on the floor and pouring the liquids down her throat.
Testimony also showed the girl was sometimes left unattended in a crib for an entire day, allowing the victim’s diapers and bed linens to saturate with feces and urine.
Hubler is accused of punching the girl Feb. 8 at their Paint Township residence. The blow caused brain injuries and the child was put on life support at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for 19 days. Doctors took her off life support on Feb. 26.
Despite the recent developments, more charges might be filed in the case. “To the best of my knowledge, the investigation is continuing,” District Attorney Jerry Spangler said.
The county and investigators are waiting on the results of several tests and are still gathering testimony and evidence, Spangler said. Among the unanswered questions are the results of an autopsy conducted on Feb. 27 by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The post-mortem examination showed the girl was possibly the victim of sexual abuse or injury, according to the report.
Heffner is being held in Somerset County Jail on $10,000 bond. If released, she is not allowed physical visitation with her other children unless permitted by the court.
A single felony count could result in a jail term of up to seven years, according to Cannoni.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Wednesday before Cannoni in Windber. Heffner has not retained an attorney.
(http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2009/03/09/news/news/news502.txt
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. -- A Paint Township man was charged with homicide after police said he punched his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter in the head on Feb. 8, leaving her with brain injuries that put her on life support.
Richard Martin Hubler Jr., 30, of Crabapple Lane, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment when the girl was taken off life support 19 days later by doctors at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, according to court documents.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/18855804/detail.html#SLANTLY_commentformheight::254