Everett woman sentenced to decades in prison for 'horrific' death of 3-year-old boy

BEDFORD COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Authorities say an Everett woman will spend decades behind bars after pleading guilty to her role in the "horrific" death of a 3-year-old Bedford County boy on Memorial Day weekend of 2022.

Prosecutors say Chelsea Cooley appeared in court Monday where she was sentenced to serve 40 to 80 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of third-degree murder in the child's death.

Cooley was charged in June of 2022 following a state police investigation into the death of her then boyfriend's 3-year-old child.

According to the arrest affidavit, troopers were dispatched to a residence for reports that the boy was "cold to the touch, not breathing and had something lodged in his throat."

Police say the child was hospitalized and later died from various injuries, which authorities say included those consistent with "manual strangulation and asphyxiation due to airway obstruction."

Upon further investigation, troopers learned that Cooley had "shoved wet wipes down the child's throat."

“The facts of this case are horrific,” Attorney General Henry said. “This defendant was responsible for caring for this child, and instead she did the unthinkable. She brutally murdered him, a defenseless and innocent three-year-old child. This defendant’s actions are devastating to the child’s loved ones, but we hope today’s admission and sentence offer a measure of justice.”

Officials say Cooley also pleaded guilty to felony strangulation and child endangerment.

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