A Delaware County woman has been convicted of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of a toddler in her care.
Delaware County jurors deliberated for about 5 hours before convicting 24-year-old Heather Hess on Friday on those counts as well as endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault.
Hess testified that she was playing “airplane” with 2-year-old David Miller Jr. in December 2011 but the toddler hit a wall. She said she told police and paramedics that he had choked on a water bottle cap because she didn't want to get into trouble.
Prosecutors, however, said the child was shaken violently and his injuries couldn't have been caused by hitting a wall.
Sentencing is scheduled for March.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
