Mt. Oliver woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of 1-year-old
A Mt. Oliver woman is charged with involuntary manslaughter stemming from the methadone-related death of a one-year-old girl last year.
The girl was in the care of 60-year-old Veronica Anglin in Anglin’s Church Avenue home on Nov. 8 when the child stopped breathing, according to a complaint filed by Allegheny County police.
Anglin found the girl unresponsive several hours after putting her to bed for an afternoon nap in Anglin’s upstairs bedroom, and a relative and another resident performed CPR on the child, police said.
Paramedics took the girl to UMPC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she was pronounced dead later that night.
In April, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that the child’s death was accidental, caused by methadone intoxication.
When interviewed by police, Anglin said she takes methadone daily and keeps the bottles in a lockbox in her bedroom.
Anglin told police she would never intentionally give methadone to the child, but said on Nov. 8 “there is a chance that she removed a dosage of her methadone prescription from the lockbox, then became preoccupied and forgot about it,” according to the complaint.
Police said they consulted with the district attorney’s office before filing charges against Anglin, also including endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.
She was arraigned Wednesday and was released on unsecured bond.
She faces a preliminary hearing on Sept. 5.
Online court records don’t list an attorney for Anglin.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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