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AMSTERDAM — Two Amsterdam women have been charged in connection to the death of a 19-month-old last fall, according to city police.
Kristen L. Burke, 38, of Amsterdam, was charged with felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and criminally negligent homicide. She was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Christina A. Kazala, 34, of Amsterdam, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the death of a 19-month-old on Oct. 12. The child suffered “non-accidental trauma,” according to police.
A 911 call reported the child was not breathing on the night of Oct. 9. Emergency crews determined the child was breathing, but was suffering from unknown medical distress.
The child was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital before being transferred a short time later to Albany Medical Center where the toddler died three days later.
Lt. Joseph Spencer, public information officer for city police, declined to comment on the specific circumstances surrounding the incident. He confirmed Kazala was the mother of the child.
In response to online speculation around Kazala’s arrest, Spencer said only, “The decision to charge Christina is based on the totality of the investigation, which began the day of the incident, but that investigation encompassed the entire life of the child that was the victim of this case.”
Burke was taken into custody on Tuesday and arraigned by City Court Judge Lisa Lorman. She was sent to Montgomery County jail in lieu of bail set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond.
Kazala was taken into custody on Thursday and processed at the station. She was released on an appearance ticket to be arraigned in City Court at a later date.
The Amsterdam Police Department and state police have been actively investigating the incident since it occurred. Montgomery County Child Protective Services and the Office of Montgomery County District Attorney Lorraine Diamond have aided the investigation.
Reach Ashley Onyon at [email protected] or @AshleyOnyon on Twitter.
Categories: -News-, Fulton Montgomery Schoharie
