Pennsylvania State police have released new details in the investigation of an Everett woman who was charged with homicide in the death of a 3-year-old boy over the Memorial Day weekend.
According to the arrest affidavit, troopers were dispatched to a residence along East 1st Street on Saturday after 31-year-old Chelsea Cooley called 911 to report that the 3-and-a-half-year-old child was “cold to the touch, not breathing and had something lodged in his throat.”
Investigators say the child was transported to UPMC Bedford before being flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Police say Cooley was interviewed at the hospital where she reportedly told authorities that the child had “thrown a temper tantrum” earlier in the day and “would not eat his lunch.”
Police say Cooley continued by explaining that the boy spent most of the day watching cartoons and “refused to eat dinner, and became tired.”
Investigators say Cooley told police that she then put the boy to bed at approximately 7:30 p.m., and when she checked on him approximately one hour later, she found him “cold, not breathing and with something stuck in his throat, which appeared to be a wet wipe.”
Authorities say Cooley noted that the wipes were only stored in the bathroom of the residence, not in the child’s bedroom.
Police say upon speaking with the doctor, the child had “signs of petechia,” or spots due to bleeding/trauma, on his neck.
Troopers were also notified that EMS personnel had removed four wet wipes from the child’s throat, some of which were “soiled with blood.”
Police say one of the EMS medics stated that “he did not believe that the child would have been able to put the wipes down his own throat” due to the number of wipes that were removed and the way that they were “packed together.”
First responders also noted in the affidavit that the child had feces on his right hand but had a clean diaper.
Troopers say on Sunday, May 29, Cooley was interviewed a second time where she reportedly changed her story and told police that the child had soiled his clothing and that she found him in the bathroom attempting to flush his underwear down the toilet.
Police say Cooley continued to mention how “poorly behaved” the boy was and that he needed to be placed in a “group home.”
Police say Cooley also showed a picture to authorities that she had sent to the child’s father on the night of the incident, a picture that reportedly showed the boy lying on the bathroom floor with “visible marks” around his neck and mouth.
Police also noted that Cooley reportedly waited approximately 25 minutes from the time that she allegedly found the child until she called 911, and when questioned about that decision, police say Cooley became agitated and explained that “her phone has been acting up.”
Police say during the second interview, troopers also noticed that Cooley appeared to have bite marks on her hands.
Investigators say troopers then searched the residence, where they recovered “an extensive number of wipes,” some of which were reportedly covered in feces, while others were reportedly covered in blood.
Police say when troopers returned to the residence, they also interviewed several neighbors, one of which reported hearing a female voice yelling and screaming “shut up” on the night of the incident.
Authorities say police then interviewed Cooley’s 11-year-old daughter, who was at the home on the night of the incident.
The affidavit states that, according to the 11-year-old, she was in her room, playing video games and wearing headphones during the time of the incident.
Police did note, however, that the 11-year-old told authorities that she had noticed that the victim was wearing different clothing when he was taken to the hospital from what he was wearing when she had last seen him at around 7 p.m. that night.
Authorities say doctors at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh discovered “extensive bruising” on the boy, including scratches and lacerations to his neck.
Police say the child passed away on the afternoon of Sunday, May 29.
Authorities say following an autopsy of the child, numerous bruises and injuries were found on his chest and neck.
Police say the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the child died from “manual strangulation and asphyxiation due to airway obstruction.”
Police say they then conducted one final interview with the child’s father who reported that he was working the night of the incident and noted that Cooley had “become frustrated” with the boy.
Cooley was arraigned on the charges late Tuesday night and is being housed at the Bedford County Correctional Facility.
Her bail was denied and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 8.
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