Tiffany Simmons chose penis over her baby.

[Rotten Apple]

Mom, boyfriend are charged in infant’s death
Probe uncovered delays by Children and Youth in removing baby from mother.

EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com

WEST HAZLETON – A Hazleton mother and her boyfriend were charged Monday in connection with the death of her 3-month-old son, Xavier Simmons, who died after being violently shaken on Jan. 14, authorities said.

Tiffany A. Simmons, 25, of North Vine Street, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of children. Her boyfriend, Alan D. Leitzel, 25, of Bator Street, West Hazleton, was charged with criminal homicide.

The couple were arraigned separately before District Judge Daniel O’Donnell. Simmons was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $250,000 bail, and Leitzel was jailed without bail.

The investigation into the case uncovered delays by the Luzerne County Children and Youth Services in removing Xavier from Simmons in a timely manner. The state Department of Public Welfare found the baby’s mother violated an agreement to keep her son away from Leitzel. The delay resulted in a downgrading of the county agency’s status by the state. Children and Youth will operate on provisional status through Sept. 1.

“She had a duty to take care of this child,” Luzerne County District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll said. “She knew she should not have allowed this baby to be around her boyfriend. She put her own needs and desires to be with this man above the safety of this child. It’s unforgivable and inexcusable.”

Simmons told a child caseworker in December that she had physical fights with Leitzel in front of her children. She was directed to keep her children away from Leitzel. She continued to take her son with her when she visited Leitzel at his home.

In its report, DPW faulted Children and Youth for failing to take immediate action after learning Simmons had violated its directive.

Musto Carroll declined comment on the Children and Youth situation and said most of the details will come out as the case against Simmons and Leitzel progresses through the courts.

According to the criminal complaint filed by county Lt. Detective Gary Capitano and state police Trooper James Curto of the Hazleton barracks: Simmons took the child to Hazleton General Hospital at about 7 a.m. Jan. 14. She claimed she was alone when she fed her son a bottle at about 5:30 a.m. and noticed her son was unresponsive about an hour later. Simmons later admitted she lied and said she was with Leitzel at his home.

Leitzel told investigators he was upset with Simmons because she wouldn’t get out of bed to care for her son. He picked up the infant under the arms without supporting the baby’s head. The infant’s head struck a plastic shield on the bassinet.

When Xavier began crying, Leitzel returned him to the bassinet, left the room and returned a short time later to find the infant gasping for air.

Police say Leitzel picked up the baby again and began yelling at Simmons to get out of bed. Simmons ignored his screams and Leitzel shook the infant two or three times, the complaint says.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/2008...th_ed_ART.html

______
This woman was shitty mother all around. Poor babies.

[Miss. Hill]

I'm sure it was just an accident! I wouldn't risk losing my children for a man, dick whatever! Why take the risk if your already under investigation? I will never understand the women who choose men over their children! Now it's to late and the poor baby lost his life so mommy could have a dick in her! I hate her!

[JenJen1995]

These assholes have the rest of their lives to be a drain on society. They can be POS in, or out of Jail. I hope the CYS workers sleep well after knowing how well they did- not following thru on a case where they KNEW she had violated the terms.

God has a special place in heaven for babies that had to endure this kind of crap on Earth!

[Pirelli Jones]

See its these cases where 100% of the children die that makes C&Y look bad. If this chick had four babies they could have saved 75% of them.

[Rotten Apple]

See its these cases where 100% of the children die that makes C&Y look bad. If this chick had four babies they could have saved 75% of them.

They could consider this a success then. She actually had more children, the story doesn't specify how many though. She just left the rest of them at home and took the newborn with her when she went to visit her POS boyfriend.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

After arriving for the first day of his trial, Alan Leitzel, 26, sat quietly in court as prosecutors called him a killer.

They said he is guilty of the first-degree murder of three-month-old Xavier Simmons. The baby died in Janaury of 2008. Investigators said Leitzel shook and hit the child.

Last week, he pleaded guilty to a general count of homicide. This week, a judge must decide if Leitzel is guilty of murder or manslaughter.

In December, Tiffany Simmons, the baby's mother, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for allowing the baby to be around Letizel. Police said she knew Leitzel was violent.

Monday prosecutoirs called witnesses who told the judge Leitzel did not want the baby around him and referred to the biracial child using slurs.

Prosecutors said Leitzel hated the baby and intended to kill the child. Defense attorneys said Leitzel has psychatric problems, an anger issue and is genuinely sorry for losing his temper and killing the baby.

In court an opthomologist testifed that the damaged to Xavier Simmons was "the worst case" he has seen in more than a decade.

If found guilty of first degree murder, Leitzel will face life behind bars. Defense attorneys are pushing for a lesser charge of third-degree murder or manslaughter.

The trial is expected to last until the middle of this week.

http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycou...,4974352.story

Twenty-six-year-old Tiffany Simmons of Hazleton was sentenced to 25 to 50 months in state prison in December 2008 after a county jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.

Prosecutors in that case said Simmons was more worried about her relationship with Leitzel than she was about her infant, and violated a Children and Youth order that directed her to keep her son away from Leitzel. Prosecutors said Leitzel had previously assaulted a man with a baseball bat and hit Tiffany Simmons once.

Simmons’ attorneys said Simmons was never warned to keep her child away from Leitzel, because he has a child of his own. The attorneys said that, as a mother of three other children, Simmons was only being what she knew how to be – a mother.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Leit...5-01-2009.html

[justmeintn]

Have women like this never heard of vibrators? They don't make babies and you won't end up with a dead baby.

[Silvahalo]

Monday prosecutoirs called witnesses who told the judge Leitzel did not want the baby around him and referred to the biracial child using slurs.

Prosecutors said Leitzel hated the baby and intended to kill the child. Defense attorneys said Leitzel has psychatric problems, an anger issue and is genuinely sorry for losing his temper and killing the baby.

The mother should get the same sentencing as this bastard who killed little Xavier out of hate and rage. Rot in prison and be forgotten....both of you.


Littlest Xavier. You deserved far better wee one. You will not be forgotten.

[Nell]

Simmons’ attorneys said Simmons was never warned to keep her child away from Leitzel, because he has a child of his own. The attorneys said that, as a mother of three other children, Simmons was only being what she knew how to be – a mother.

God this bitch makes me angry. She was only being a mother? Really? Then she shoulda got her fat ass outta bed and taken care of her child so he would still be alive today.