The mother of an infant boy is now facing a neglect charge after her son died under the burden of illness and alleged abuse in September.
A cardiac arrest killed the 7-month-old son of Julie Porreca, 18, according to a criminal complaint filed in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.
Though Porreca is from Pennsylvania, she brought the child to see his grandfather in West Virginia, according to the complaint.
The boy had injuries "consistent with intentional abuse," the complaint states, and Porreca failed to have the injuries treated.
She told police the boy received children's fever medication before his death, but an autopsy detected an adult anti-depressant, according to the complaint.
The autopsy also revealed pneumonia, the complaint states. Though her child stopped breathing several times the night of his death, Porreca never sought medical attention.
State Police troopers arrested Porreca on a charge of child neglect resulting in death. She remained at North Central Regional Jail in lieu of a $15,000 bail on Thursday morning.