MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police charged a woman Friday with causing the death of 15-month-old girl she was babysitting last month.
Pietrina Cecilia Hoffman, 52, of 519 W. Centre St. was charged with felony crimes of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, persons not to possess or use firearms and endangering the welfare of children along with misdemeanor offenses of prohibited offensive weapons, recklessly endangering another person and possession of drug paraphernalia.
She was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison without bail.
Kilker explained that when charged with a capital offense, such as criminal homicide, bail can only be set by the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas. The woman faces a possible sentence of death or life imprisonment if convicted, the judge said.
Patrolman Thomas Rentschler charged Hoffman with causing the death of Navaeh Doyle, who was found dead inside the Hoffman home about 2:20 p.m. Jan. 10 when Mahanoy City EMS personnel went there for a report of a pediatric cardiac arrest.
Rentschler said it appeared that the child, who was found on the floor on the first floor of the home dressed in a Pittsburgh Steelers onesie, had been dead for several hours.
EMS personnel reported when they entered the home, they found Doyle on her back on the floor with her head and shoulders covered by a blanket with only her torso and legs exposed, Rentschler said.
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:50 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Scott Clews.
Shortly after, Rentschler said, he interviewed Hoffman who said she was sleeping and about 2 a.m. went to the bathroom and then back to bed on a loveseat with a 2-year-old child who was also in the house. Hoffman also said that when she awoke at that time, Doyle was on the floor with a blanket because she would not sleep in her pack and play bed.
Rentschler said Hoffman went on to say that when she awoke 12 hours later, about 2 p.m., Doyle was in the same position. After realizing something was wrong with Doyle, Rentschler said, Hoffman admitted first calling her husband and not 911 to summon help.
As the investigation continued that day, Rentschler said, Hoffman gave permission for her home to be searched. That search yielded a .22-caliber long rifle despite Hoffman being a convicted felon, a water bong for ingesting controlled substances, several bottles of medications, ammunition, identifications and other items.
The 2-year-old child was taken into protective custody with the assistance of Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services, the officer said.
In a later interview, Rentschler recalled Hoffman blurting out “I’m never going to watch another child again as long as I live.”
The woman told authorities that Doyle had a fever, was coughing and vomiting and that she took her to an urgent care facility. She also said that a bruise on the girl’s cheek was caused by her falling into a toy chest, Rentschler said.
The officer said Hoffman gave another story, saying that she woke up about 5 a.m., felt Doyle and said the child was lying on her stomach on a pillow covered with a blanket.
Rentschler said Hoffman admitted taking a sleep aid and said that she is not sure if she may have stepped on the child or not. The woman also said she needs the medication to help her sleep and admitted it was not a good idea with small children in the house.
Rentschler said Children and Youth Services had the 2-year-old girl medically evaluated and learned the child had a high ketone level in her urine, indicating her body was breaking down body fat for energy, indicative of early signs of starvation.
On Jan. 14, a forensic autopsy was conducted on Doyle at Reading Hospital where pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman determined the cause of death to be “asphyxia by smothering,” consistent with pressure against the anterior portion of the child’s face.
The pathologist also found evidence of pressure and force applied to the upper portion of the girl’s neck. Rentschler said the pathologist concluded Doyle was dead, face down, more than four hours before police involvement.
After subsequent interviews with Hoffman, Rentschler said, the woman agreed to take a lie detector test.
That test was administered Thursday by a state police specialist who questioned Hoffman involving the death of Doyle and determined that the woman failed.
Shenandoah police assisted at the scene the day the child was found and Hoffman was taken into custody Friday by Pottsville police on a warrant issued by Kilker.
Hoffman will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing at noon Feb. 25 before Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom.