ANDREW MOYER JR - 6 weeks (2012) - Convicted: Parents, Andrew Ray Moyer Sr and Brianna E. Michael - Columbia, PA

Columbia couple Andrew Moyer Sr. and Brianna Michael accused of killing infant son

Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 11:38 pm | Updated: 4:08 pm, Thu Sep 19, 2013.



JENNIFER TODD and BRETT HAMBRIGHT Staff

Police have accused a Columbia couple of killing their 6-week-old son, who died after a series of severe beatings delivered over the course of one to two weeks, according to officials.

Andrew Ray Moyer Sr., 24, and Brianna E. Michael, 23, both of 146 Locust St., Apt. D, were taken into custody in Stevens around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Both are charged with homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide. Michael also is charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of children, and Moyer is charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children. Both are charged with conspiracy to endanger the welfare of children.

They were arraigned and committed to Lancaster County Prison without bail.

Their son, Andrew Moyer Jr., was found dead at the couple's apartment on the morning of Oct. 18.

Authorities said the boy was beaten multiple times and died after a final, brutal battering that included powerful blows to the head.

"It does not get much more depraved than this," Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said, after his office approved charges Wednesday.

"They tortured their 6-week-old son, refused to get him medical treatment, then bashed his head repeatedly until he was dead."
According to an arrest affidavit filed Wednesday night, Andrew Moyer Jr. suffered brain injuries, burns, broken ribs and injuries to several internal organs.

The document does not state which of the two parents is believed to have delivered the beatings.

Authorities, however, wrote that both Moyer and Michael are at fault for the child's death because they failed to seek medical attention and conspired to lie to cover up the abuse.

Investigators outlined events this way in the affidavit:

Police and medical personnel called to the family's Locust Street apartment at 9 a.m. on Oct. 18 for a report of an unresponsive infant found the body of Andrew Moyer Jr.

That same day, police interviewed Moyer and Michael, along with William R. Long, who is the boyfriend of Michael's mother and sometimes stayed with the two when he was working in the area.

All three said they did not know what might have caused the baby's death.

On Friday, an autopsy concluded that Andrew Moyer Jr. died of multiple traumatic injuries and the Lancaster County Coroner's office ruled the death a homicide.

Dr. Wayne K. Ross, county forensic pathologist, said the child sustained blunt trauma to the head, probably from multiple blows with a fist, or from the baby's head being struck against a firm object. Those injuries, he said, likely would have caused death within minutes.

Ross found that the baby suffered similar injuries to the torso, resulting in a lacerated liver. He also found thermal burns to the infant's right hand and buttocks.

The pathologist also discovered the child had sustained other injuries, including brain swelling, nine broken ribs, subdural hematoma and hemorrhages to the lungs, diaphragm, liver, stomach, pancreas and bowel. The boy also had injuries to his mouth and scrotum.

During a second interview with Michael, she admitted she was aware within the last week or two of burns to her son's hand and buttocks. She said she also was aware of bruising to the scrotum area.

Michael also said that around 1 a.m. on the morning of her son's death, she discovered blood on his mouth and wiped it with a tissue. She said the baby seemed fine after she cleaned the blood.

When she checked on him eight hours later he was cold, motionless and lifeless, she said.

According to a forensics report, blood spatter on the infant's clothing was consistent with the child sustaining two blows to the mouth, officials said.

During follow-up interviews, Moyer, too, said he was aware of the burns to his son's body and bruising to his scrotum, all of which, officials said, would've been "extremely painful."

Moyer told authorities his son had no injuries when he tried to feed him at 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.

During an interview Monday, Long said neither parent made any attempt to call 911 on the morning of their son's death. After imploring the couple to call for medical help, Michael replied, "Oh my God, you can't call them … You can't call 911, they will think we killed him."

He went on to tell police that early on October 17 - at 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 - he heard the infant crying. As he was preparing to go to work, between 9 and 10 a.m., Long walked into a spare room and discovered Andrew Moyer Jr. strapped in a child car seat placed on the floor, which was littered with trash, clothes and other debris.

Long also told police that when he arrived home from work the evening of Oct. 17, Moyer and Michael were "quiet and would not talk to each other or (him)."

Fifteen minutes later, after he hadn't heard or seen the baby, he asked about the boy. Michael told him she fed the infant and put him to bed.

As he headed to the bathroom, near the couple's bedroom where the baby normally slept, Michael told Long not to "go back there and wake him." Long told police this was something he had never done.

On Wednesday, Long told authorities about a conversation he overheard Monday between Moyer, Michael and Moyer's stepfather.

As the three talked about police-interrogation techniques, Michael said to her boyfriend, "Don't worry, you know I'll never tell on you."

To which Moyer responded, "I'll never make you out to be the bad person."

http://lancasteronline.com/news/columbia-couple-andrew-moyer-sr-and-brianna-michael-accused-of/article_bb329daf-f98e-5484-8dbc-32151ffb4a21.html

Columbia mother gets up to 28 years for neglecting abuse that killed infant son

Posted: Friday, February 14, 2014 4:10 pm | Updated: 5:43 pm, Fri Feb 14, 2014.
By BRETT HAMBRIGHT | Staff Writer

Brianna Michael didn’t deliver the blow that killed her six-week-old son in 2012, a judge said Friday in Lancaster County Court.

But she had a duty to protect baby “A.J.” Moyer, the judge said.

“And (you) failed miserably,” County Judge David Ashworth told the 24-year-old Michael. “Clearly, (you) cared more about her own well-being... than you did about your own child.”

Ashworth ordered that Michael serve 4 years and 9 months to 28 years in prison for ignoring the abuse that was happening at her Columbia apartment.

That abuse ultimately led to A.J.’s death on Oct. 18, 2012, according to testimony.

Andrew Moyer, the child’s father, is serving a life sentence for the fatal beating.
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Michael also abused the child, it was said in court. And she refused to help the boy when he was obviously hurt the day he died — even telling her stepfather not to call 911, according to testimony.
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“She was there when these injuries were inflicted,” First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen told the judge. “She had a duty to that child, and she neglected that child.”

Ashworth agreed, and ordered a near-maximum sentence on three charges: aggravated assault, endangering a child and hindering apprehension.

Regarding the latter charge, Ashworth explained, Michael attempted to pin the killing on her stepfather. She forged a confession, signing her stepfather’s name, and provided it to authorities, Ashworth said.

She also “bargained with police,” the judge said, telling officers that she would tell the truth is they allowed her to attend A.J.’s funeral.

“Brianna Michael can also be manipulative, self-serving and less than credible,” Ashworth said.

Previously in the hearing, defense attorney Jeffrey Conrad said Michael was manipulated and abused nearly all of her life.

She was sexually and physically abused growing up and also was abused by Moyer, Conrad told the judge.

Conrad said Moyer controlled Michael, as he did with women in previous relationships. He also abused his other child, Conrad said.

“Andrew Moyer was looking for a Brianna Michael,” Conrad told the judge. “He wanted a girl with baggage and issues, so he could be her super hero.”

Lisa Moyer, Andrew Moyer’s mother and A.J.’s grandmother, rejected what she called Michael shifting all blame onto her son.

“If you were a mother who cared about her son, you would have protected him!” Lisa Moyer said, weeping, a few steps away from Michael.

“There is a hole in my heart that only belonged to A.J.,” Lisa Moyer said.

As part of the sentence, Ashworth ordered that Michael complete parenting classes and related counseling before she is released from prison.

“I can’t prevent you from having (children),” the judge said. “But I have a duty to protect the public.”

“I’m concerned about what will happen if, and when, you are ever released,” he said. “I’m concerned about a future child.”

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-mother-gets-up-to-years-for-neglecting-abuse-that/article_702f2b30-95bc-11e3-9090-001a4bcf6878.html