Dad charged with homicide in death of 2-month-old infant, mom charged with "endangering" for failure to protect, seek medical care (Erie, Pennsylvania)

Do I know for a fact that the mom did everything within her actual power to save this baby? No.

But I know that 14 years in prison is a lot longer than many fathers serve who actually kill babies.

Dad is identified as WENDELL T. MULKEY.

http://www.goerie.com/mother-enters-plea-in-corry-infant-death-case

Mother enters plea in Corry infant death case
By Lisa Thompson 814-870-1802

Erie Times-News
October 3, 2015 06:29 AM

ERIE, Pa. -- The mother of a Corry 2-month-old who died in 2014 of severe head trauma has agreed to testify against the child's father when he stands trial on homicide charges in mid-October.

Miranda C. Fay, 21, appeared in Erie County Court on Friday to plead guilty to reduced charges stemming from the abuse and death of her daughter.

Fay pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges of endangering the welfare of a child and agreed to testify against the baby's father, Wendell T. Mulkey, 27, who is scheduled to face trial on homicide and related charges Oct. 12.

In exchange for Fay's plea and her pledge to testify against Mulkey, First Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz dropped one third-degree felony count of endangering the welfare of a child.

With the plea, Fay admitted that between Feb. 10 and March 10, 2014, she failed to seek medical help for her child when she knew that the child had suffered a broken leg, rib fractures and severe head injuries, allegedly inflicted by Mulkey.

Fay said little at the hearing. She indicated she understood her rights and was guilty of the crimes.

She is being held in the Erie County Prison after failing to post $150,000 bond.

Fay was pregnant at the time of her and Mulkey's arrests in March. She recently delivered the child, who is now in the custody of the Erie County Office of Children and Youth, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said.

Fay faces up to 14 years in prison and a $30,000 fine at sentencing, which Judge William R. Cunningham scheduled for Nov. 6. She is being represented by Assistant Public Defender John Bonanti.

Mulkey, who is in the Erie County Prison with no bond set, is accused of homicide and two felony counts each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child in the March 10, 2014, death of the couple's daughter.

The infant, identified in court records only as S.M., suffered severe head trauma and 34 fractures to her ribs and leg bones that were in various stages of healing, the prosecution has said. Investigators had to wait for a review of medical evidence before they could file charges in March.

According to a criminal complaint, Mulkey and Fay told investigators in a March 11, 2014, interview that the baby had not had any medical problems before her death on March 10, 2014. They said she was solely in their care in their home on East Airport Road in Corry.

Mulkey admitted he had lost his temper and shaken S.M. on previous occasions, investigators said.

He also said that on one occasion while changing the baby's diaper, he heard her leg make a "popping" sound, which he said might have been her leg breaking.