MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Pennsylvania man is facing charges in connection to a child’s death in Monongalia County.
Edward Arthur Lee, 40, of Uniontown, is charged with child neglect resulting in death and conspiracy in connection to the September 4, 2016 death of a seven-month-old child. He joins the 19-year-old mother, Julie Porreca, as the second person charged in this investigation. Porreca waived her preliminary hearing in June.
According to Lee’s criminal complaint, a State Trooper arrived at a home on Fort Martin Road after 9 p.m. on September 4, 2016. He found a seven-month-old child in cardiac arrest. The investigation revealed that the child had been brought to Monongalia County two days prior to stay with his maternal grandfather. The child had visible injuries consistent with intentional abuse at the time, according to police.
Police say the child was never provided with medical attention for these injuries, developed a significant fever, and was found to have an adult anti-depressant in his system. An autopsy later determined the child died of pneumonia.
During the night prior to his death, the child stopped breathing on numerous occasions and was resuscitated only to become non-responsive prior to Trooper First Class C.J. Berry’s arrival.
The Medical Examiner determined that:
“There existed a plausible relationship between the child’s cause of death, the pneumonia, and the effects and consequences of a small baby having been physically assaulted by a caretaker and having been inappropriately administered a medication that created a risk of death.”
Child neglect resulting in death could result in a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.