New Kensington mother arrested after 3-year-old dies of suspected child abuse

The mother of a 3-year-old who died of suspected abuse last month was arrested Wednesday, according to court documents.

Teresa Fetterman, 23, of New Kensington is charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and others after her son died April 24, after spending almost a month at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The boy’s stepfather, Keith Dale Lilly Jr., 31, was previously charged with aggravated assault, child endangerment and reckless endangerment.

Police responded to an apartment at Valley Royal Court about 1:30 a.m. March 26 in response to a young boy in cardiac arrest, according to a criminal complaint against Lilly. During the call, Fetterman was seen crying and distraught while Lilly was performing CPR on the child, who was naked on the living room floor.

After the boy was transported to the hospital, medical staff observed injuries including a skull fracture with a brain bleed and swelling, numerous cheek bruises, mouth injuries, back and lower abdomen bruising, other fractures in various stages of healing and bleeding from the rectum with bruising.

According to the complaint against Lilly, Fetterman told police the child had been in their care since March 20 after staying with her father. Fetterman told police she left the apartment March 25, leaving the child in Lilly’s care. That night, they watched television in the living room.

After going to bed about 10 p.m., Fetterman told police she was awakened by the boy screaming. She went back to bed after Lilly said he would take care of it and was later told by Lilly to call 911 because the child was not breathing.

Lilly told police he and the child were on separate couches. He fell asleep and was awakened by the child screaming after falling off. He claimed he put the child back on the couch and gave him a pain reliever and water. He discovered he was not breathing when he checked on him a short time later.

A doctor advised that the boy’s injuries “are not consistent with the histories provided” by Lilly and his mother “and are diagnostic for physical child abuse.”

Fetterman is being held on $50,000 bond. In addition to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, she is charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 28 with District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. Lilly’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 9 with Pallone.