CHELSEA RENAE COOLEY | Woman Sentenced For Trying To Stop A Child From Crying | Killed 3-Year-Old "Stepson" By Jamming "Packed Together" Baby Wipes Down His Throat | Gets 80 Years In Prison | ALS

Chelsea Cooley. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Pittsburgh, PA. October 3, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Chelsea Renae Cooley: Case Overview

Chelsea Renae Cooley, a 33-year-old woman from Bedford County, was involved in a tragic and criminal incident that resulted in the death of a three-year-old boy. The case has been widely reported due to its horrific nature and the severe legal consequences that followed.

Incident Details

On May 28, 2022, Cooley was the sole adult caregiver at her home when the child, who was her boyfriend’s son, was found unresponsive with baby wipes lodged in his throat. The child was initially taken to UPMC Bedford where doctors managed to restart his heart. However, he later died after being flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the child had been strangled and asphyxiated by an adult. This conclusion was based on the location of the wipes and other injuries observed on the child’s body. Extensive bruising indicated that these injuries could not have been self-inflicted by the child.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Cooley pleaded guilty to third-degree murder along with felony counts of strangulation and endangering the welfare of a child. She received a sentence of 40 years for third-degree murder and an additional 20 years for each of the other felony charges, totaling 80 years in prison. These sentences are to be served consecutively.

During court proceedings, it was revealed that Cooley delayed calling emergency services despite having photographic evidence of the child’s condition at 8:41 p.m., only contacting authorities at 9:07 p.m. A neighbor also reported hearing screaming and a female voice yelling “shut up” around the time investigators believe the injuries were inflicted.

During the investigation and legal proceedings, Chelsea Renae Cooley did make some statements. According to court documents, she mentioned that the boy, Travis W. Young Jr., was poorly behaved and suggested that he needed to go to a group home. She also admitted to getting frustrated with the children.

At her sentencing, Cooley's lawyer requested that she be allowed to leave the courtroom during the victim impact statements, but the judge denied this request, insisting that she remain present.

Impact Statements and Courtroom Behavior

In court, victim impact statements were read by both parents of the deceased child. The father expressed his devastation and inability to forgive Cooley for her actions, while the mother conveyed her pain but stated she forgave Cooley because she believed her son would not want her to hold onto anger.

Despite these emotional statements, Cooley showed no visible remorse during sentencing and chose not to speak when given an opportunity. Her demeanor led President Judge Travis Livengood to comment on her lack of remorse and express disbelief at how someone could harbor such anger towards a three-year-old child.

Conclusion

The case highlights severe issues related to child welfare and domestic violence within care-giving environments. It underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from potential harm by those entrusted with their care.

VIDEO: Woman Charged with Killing ‘Stepson’ by Stuffing ‘Packed Together’ Baby Wipes Down His Throat | https://youtu.be/M4562j6eBHk

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