W.Va. mom indicted for allegedly fatally stabbing infant daughter in the heart with butcher knife
07/12/2023 1:44 pm PDT
LEWIS COUNTY, W.Va. (TCD) -- A grand jury indicted a 32-year-old Weston woman on two criminal charges for allegedly stabbing her 3-month-old daughter to death late last year.
In a press release, the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office listed nearly 20 people who were indicted by the grand jury that convened on July 10, including Krista Brunecz, who was charged with one count of murder and one count of death of a child by parent, guardian, or custodian or other person by child abuse.
According to the criminal complaint cited by WBOY-TV, on Dec. 30, 2022, at approximately 8 a.m., Lewis County deputies responded to an apartment complex after a woman called to report there was "blood all over the apartment." When deputies arrived, they reportedly saw a woman "kneeling in front of the couch with a lifeless infant in her arms."
Near her, another adult woman had blood all over her body. Deputies located a butcher knife as well.
Paramedics transported Brunecz and her child to a nearby hospital, where the child was pronounced dead. Brunecz allegedly told officials she "stabbed her baby and then herself."
Deputies reportedly noted the 3-month-old victim’s clothes had “several holes in the shirt and chest area” that looked like they had been made by a knife.
An autopsy report showed the little girl sustained wounds to her lungs and heart and died from "several stab wounds to the chest."
WCHS-TV, which also cites the criminal complaint, reports Brunecz allegedly texted her mother a photo of herself with the victim, who had blood all over her body.
Brunecz remains in custody at the Central Regional Jail.
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