PA - Athena Wolfe, 2, kicked to death, Falls Twp, 26 April 2016 *mom charged*

According to a criminal complaint filed by police, doctors at the hospital said that Athena appeared to be "terribly battered and injured."

The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner homicide.

When asked about why Moore kicked the child, Lt. Ward said Moore claimed to be under stress and 'snapped.' She allegedly told police Athena had frequent temper tantrums.
http://6abc.com/news/mother-charged-in-2-year-old-daughters-death/1310919/

Mother charged in death of Bucks 2-year-old
[...]
A 24-year-old Bucks County woman charged with beating her 2-year-old daughter to death told police that she "lost it" when she began kicking the toddler.


Kayla Moore was arrested Tuesday night in the death of Athena Wolfe, who underwent emergency surgery to relieve swelling on her brain Sunday but died the next day at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma.

Officials said the girl's injuries were so severe, they were more like those of someone involved in a car accident.


Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/2..._of_Bucks_2-year-old.html#7hYXC8WbmpfpAcCh.99
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160428_Mother_charged_in_death_of_Bucks_2-year-old.html



:rose:


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http://www.philly.com/philly/news/2..._of_Bucks_2-year-old.html#7hYXC8WbmpfpAcCh.99

No history of drugs/alcohol or violence or involvement with child services, 4 year old has no sign of abuse, and mother appeared 'drained' to police. She looks it, too.
What she did was really, really wrong. But maybe in another life where things weren't 'tight' and she'd had more help or support maybe this wouldn't have happened. Not that this isn't her fault, it is, and I don't think being 'drained' or being sick of your toddler having a lot of tantrums is ever an excuse. A reason maybe, but not an excuse. But this doesn't strike me as one of those cases where disaster was waiting to happen.

Having had a child just diagnosed with autism (who thankfully has never had very bad meltdowns compared to some) it makes me wonder if maybe those frequent tantrums could have meant there was an underlying issue that under better circumstances she might have been able to get help with.

RIP Athena.

WPXI news (no link on site yet) says that baby Athena was laid to rest in Ford City by her father Jim Wolfe. At the same time Amy Marcinkiewz reports mother was arraigned for the murder of her daughter.