"Baby Jane Doe" - 18 Months/ Accused: Amanda Svenungsen - Ursina (nr WV border) PA

URSINA —
A Somerset County woman was charged Monday in connection with last month’s death of an infant in her care.
State police in Somerset said Amanda Jayne Svenungsen, 22, of Ursina,
failed to provide medical care for the 18-month-old child who was found
dead in her crib.
Family members became concerned about the baby’s health after finding severe bruising around the child’s neck, troopers said.
They had planned to take the child to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, but the girl was found dead on Aug. 5, troopers said.
An autopsy conducted by Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office on
Aug. 5 showed the child suffered from “significant injuries that were a
result of child abuse,” troopers said.
Svenungsen was the child’s primary caregiver and a known drug user, troopers said.
Svenungsen, of the 200 block of Weyand Street, was arraigned by
District Judge Douglas Bell of Meyersdale and released on $10,000
unsecured bond.
http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x1190852013/Woman-charged-in-infant-s-death

SOMERSET —
A Somerset County woman and her boyfriend were arrested on Monday in
connection with the death of the woman’s 18-month-old daughter in
August.

Amanda Jayne Svenungsen, 22, and Cody Michael Schartiger, 26, both of Ursina Borough, are charged with homicide.

State police in Somerset said the child was found dead in her crib on
Aug. 5 inside the home the couple shared in the 300 block of Park
Street.

The girl was the victim of child abuse, authorities said.

An autopsy conducted by the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office
showed the child died from asphyxiation due to smothering.

She also had a broken right arm, numerous bruises and a head injury.

There also appeared to be a thumbprint on the girl’s neck, authorities said.

The grim photos of the child taken at the hospital jolted investigators.

“It’s heartbreaking,” state police spokesman Trooper John Matchik said.

“The photographs are absolutely heartbreaking.”

State police began an investigation after receiving a tip about
suspected child abuse just days before the girl was found dead, Matchik
said.

“We were in the preliminary phases of conducting an investigation when unfortunately tragedy struck,” he said.

Svenungsen and Schartiger were arraigned Monday by District Judge
Sandra Stevanus and sent to the Somerset County Jail, where they are
being held without bond.
http://tribune-democrat.com/local/x673422080/Couple-charged-in-death-of-baby