HARRISBURG, PA — In Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, a woman has been arrested on allegations related to the death of her boyfriend’s one-year-old daughter. The arrest comes after an investigation by the Office of Attorney General and New Castle Police Department into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death in June 2023.
Twenty-year-old Aleisia Owens is facing charges that include criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, Owens could face severe penalties for these accusations, which stem from alleged actions leading up to the child’s death and other reported acts of abuse in the months prior.
The medical examiner determined that fatal levels of acetone in the child’s bloodstream caused her death, ruling it a homicide. In the months leading up to her death, the child reportedly ingested harmful items such as “water beads,” button-shaped batteries, and a metal screw. Investigators claim that Owens had been researching online about the potential harm these items could cause to children before the ingestion incidents occurred.
“The details of this case are heartbreaking,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened.”
The investigation began when emergency responders were called to the home of Bailey Jacoby, Owens’ boyfriend, in June 2023. They found Jacoby’s one-year-old daughter unresponsive and rushed her to UPMC Jameson Hospital. Despite immediate medical attention and subsequent airlifting to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, the child tragically passed away.
An autopsy revealed that acetone poisoning, resulting in organ failure, was the cause of death. Medical experts concluded that the child had been exposed to acetone shortly before her hospitalization. Further investigation unveiled that Owens had allegedly conducted multiple web searches on her cellphone related to the ingestion of harmful household items such as water beads, batteries, and nail polish.
Water beads, found in toys and crafts, can be harmful or even fatal if ingested by children. Records show that the child was previously hospitalized after swallowing numerous harmful objects, including about 20 water beads, batteries, and a metal screw.
This case is currently being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alicia Werner and Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Rice. As with all legal proceedings, it is important to remember that these charges are allegations, and Owens is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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