A Pennsylvania woman whom officials say “brutally murdered” a 3-year-old boy was sentenced to 40 to 80 years behind bars for the 2022 crime.
Chelsea R. Cooley pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and strangulation for the death of her boyfriend’s son, according to a press release from state Attorney General Michelle A. Henry. The 33-year-old received her sentence on Monday.
On May 28, 2022, officials discovered the child with baby wipes stuffed in his throat. Unresponsive, the boy was transported to the local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Cooley is said to be the only adult in the home during the incident while the father was working a 12-hour shift. Other children were present at the time, according to authorities.
“The facts of this case are horrific. This defendant was responsible for caring for this child, and instead she did the unthinkable,” Henry said in a statement. “She brutally murdered him, a defenseless and innocent three-year-old child. This defendant’s actions are devastating to the child’s loved ones, but we hope today’s admission and sentence offer a measure of justice.”
A neighbor mentioned they heard screaming and a woman yelling, “Shut up,” the evening of the incident per a press release. It was revealed that Cooley showed law enforcement a photo of the injured, unresponsive child that she took at 8:41 p.m.; however, she didn’t call 911 until nearly 30 minutes later. Cooley blamed the delay on her phone “acting up.”
While on the phone with dispatchers, officials claimed Cooley was reluctant to listen to instructions to help the toddler. According to the Bedford Gazette, she removed two wipes from his mouth. First responders reportedly took out four more while doctors needed the help of 8-10 inch forceps to remove an additional two.
In an arrest affidavit obtained by local news station WJAC, Cooley claimed she found the toddler who was “acting…
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