In The Press : Miscellaneous Cases
Woman faces manslaughter charge in death of infant
Boy died under Narehood’s supervision
The Lewistown Sentinel
Saturday September 13, 2008
By Kiernan M. Schalk
Sentinel Reporter
A Bratton Township woman, who runs a licensed day care out of her house at 70 Narehood Lane, has been charged in connection with the death of a 1-year-old boy who died while under her supervision.
Connie L. Narehood, 55, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the infant death of Zayden Scott Reeves, of North Grand Street, Lewistown.
According to court documents, Reeves was dropped off by his mother around 9:30 a.m. on July 8 at a day care center operated by Narehood. Reeves was discovered to be unresponsive shortly after 10 a.m. by Narehood, who initially said that she placed Reeves in a playpen where she later found the child.
In July, Mifflin County Coroner Daniel P. Lynch said Reeves died as a result of mechanical asphyxiation.
Mifflin County Regional Police Chief William Herkert said that during the course of the investigation, officers came to believe that Narehood’s initial story was inaccurate.
According to court documents, police interviewed a 12-year-old who allegedly was at the day care center on the day of the incident. Police said the 12-year-old stated that Reeves had been placed in a playpen by a 9-year-old who then placed a board on top of it in an apparent effort to contain the child, and additional objects were placed on top of the board to secure it.
The infant apparently attempted to push the board out of the way in an attempt to get out, and it fell on top of him, documents indicate. It landed on his neck and pinned him against the Pack ‘n Play, ultimately causing him to die of asphyxiation, documents indicate.
Narehood initially told police that the child was in an adjacent room from the kitchen; it was later discovered that child was in the basement of the residence, unattended at the time of the incident, police said.
“These kids are not responsible for this in any one shape or form … if she didn’t do it, it was done with her direction,” Mifflin County District Attorney Steve Snook said of the slightly different version of who placed the child in the playpen.
Snook said he hopes to have the case resolved very soon in light of Narehood’s willingness to accept responsibility for the death.
“We have a plea agreement worked out with her lawyer and she is going to plead guilty to both of the charges … she gave us a detail story of what happened,” Snook said, adding that there is no agreed upon sentence, and that decision is left to the judge.
“A judge who takes her plea will have a broad range of sentences to consider … I think a significant jail term is appropriate; I will ask for a state prison sentence,” Snook said.
Narehood’s attorney, Shawn M. Curry, would not confirm any type of plea agreement, but said Narehood is very upset about the death of the child.
“All I can really say at this point is this is an unfortunate and unforeseen tragic accident, that Connie is sorry for what happened and all of those who experienced this tragic loss, and that Connie mourns the loss of Zayden every day,” Curry said.
Police said Narehood voluntarily surrendered herself at Magisterial District Judge Jack Miller’s office on Friday. According to court documents, she was arraigned on the above charges and bail was set at $50,000 unsecured. Narehood has waived her preliminary hearing, and her next court date has not been scheduled.
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