A married couple from Upper Darby was taken into custody after 7-months of investigation regarding the drug overdose death of their 10-month-old daughter earlier this year.
32-year-old Lauren Semanyk was taken away from the courthouse in handcuffs on Thursday, while The father, 34-year-old Joseph Milano, was already in jail on DUI charges.
both of them were charged Wednesday with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and conspiracy, among other charges.
the parents tried to cover the death of their infant after she got hold of fentanyl-laced heroin and overdosed.
On April 16 around 1:20 a.m., police found the couple’s daughter, Angelina Milano, dead at their home on the 5000 blocks of Westley Drive. Joseph Milano met the responding police officer outside while holding Angelina in his arms and shouting that she was not breathing, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
the parents claimed the child drowned in a bathtub. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
the parents waited more than six hours before getting the child help, despite allegedly knowing the girl had ingested the drugs.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said: "This is a very, very tragic story and it shows what drug addiction can do. The victim was a 10-month-old baby girl," adding: "She was healthy and just learning to walk, she could say momma and da-da.... and she's dead."
The couple’s other child, an 8-year-old girl, was sent to live with relatives.
the parent's first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 13.
