GARFIELD, Pa., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania day-care operator and her daughter pleaded guilty in the case of a 10-month-old girl who was killed while in their care.
Loretta Bray, 49, and her daughter, Ashley Swann, 22, of Garfield Monday entered their guilty pleas to endangering the welfare of children in the death of Marcia Poston, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Both women were sentenced to one year of probation, the Post-Gazette reported.
The incident occurred on June 6, 2008, when Bray left the home to run errands, and Swann left the six children in her charge in the basement to do chores upstairs. When Swann returned to the basement 20 minutes later, the baby was face-down on a sofa, bleeding, and she died, court records showed.
Police said believe Bray's then 7-year-old granddaughter killed the baby. No charges were filed against her due to her age, the report said.
Bray and Swann apologized for the incident, the Post-Gazette said.
"I think this is a very appropriate result that each one of you have chosen to step forward and acknowledge whatever parts you played in this tragedy There's no punishment that can bring home the impact beyond what you have already suffered, and there's nothing that can make the family whole," said Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos.
Bray, who operated a state-licensed facility, Bray's Brats Day Care, voluntarily shut down the day care "because she was so distraught over what happened," said defense lawyer Olga Salvatori.
