Toddler Killed By Dad’s Girlfriend Who Fed Her Batteries And Screw

A lady is accused of poisoning her boyfriend’s 18-month-old daughter by giving her batteries, screws, and nail polish remover before the death, after researching the negative effects the items could have on a kid.

Aleisia Owens, 20, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 11, for the probable homicide of Iris Rita Alfera after an autopsy revealed the infant died from deadly levels of acetone in her blood, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry.

Owens was living with Iris’ father, Bailey Jacoby, when he went to the store on June 25, 2023.

Jacoby, who had visiting rights with Iris, received a phone call from Owens, who informed him that something was wrong with his daughter.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by WPIX, he hurried to his New Castle house to find his infant girl motionless and immediately dialled 911.

Iris was sent to UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle, Pennsylvania, for treatment, but she was later evacuated to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, almost an hour away.

Four days later, the toddler died of organ failure.

Iris was raised by her mother, Emily Alfera, and grandparents, with her father, Jacoby, having visitation privileges.

Read Also: Woman Dies From Food Poison After Sardine Dinner

According to the complaint, Owens informed officers that the daughter banged her head when she “cramped up” and fell off her bed.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the postmortem revealed that Iris had ingested several “water beads,” as well as button-shaped batteries and a metal screw, months before she died.

A search of Owens’ phone revealed she had been looking up “information on household products that could cause a child serious harm or death, including water beads, batteries, and nail polish,” from February to June 2023.

Police found she had also searched “beauty products that are poisonous to kids” and “medications leading to cause accidental poisoning deaths in children.”

Acetone may be found in nail polish remover. According to New Castle Police Chief Robert Salem, the wicked discoveries on Owens’ phone were a “crucial piece of evidence against her.”

“The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then misled investigators about what happened,” Henry said in a statement.

“The investigation shows that, for months, the defendant conducted meticulous research on how certain substances harm children. She then allegedly acted on her findings.”

Jacoby had lived with Owens for approximately a year before allegedly murdering his daughter.

Police did not arrest Jacoby in connection with his daughter’s death because “at this time, there is no evidence at all linking him or anyone else to the baby’s death,” Salem told New Castle News.

“There was nothing throughout the investigation to show that he had any knowledge or involvement about what happened to the baby. He was questioned multiple times and was cooperative.”

Jacoby had lived with Owens for approximately a year before allegedly murdering his daughter.

Owens was charged with homicide as well as attempted homicide, aggravated assault on a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and “other offences regarding conduct leading to the baby’s death and other acts of abuse in months prior.”

The alleged child killer appeared in front of Judge Richard A. Russo on Thursday to have her charges read to her, where she sat “dry-eyed and expressionless,” according to the New Castle News.

Owens was arrested and is being held without bond at the Lawrence County Jail.

“We’re happy that they’ve finally arrested her. That’s the first step. It will be a long process in the court system,” the child’s grandfather, Frank Alfera, told the outlet.

Meanwhile, Emily Alfera has been posting heartfelt condolences to her daughter since her alleged murder.

“I have no words for what has currently happened to my beautiful angel baby, never in my life I thought I would be saying goodbye to the biggest light in my life,” Emily Alfera posted on her Facebook a day after Iris died.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli