LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Niagara Falls woman now admits she caused the severe injuries that led to the death of a three-and-a-half month old baby in her care.
Samantha Klein, 31, pleaded guilty in Niagara County Court Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter
Klein was watching Alaya Foster in a home on North Avenue in Niagara Falls in February when she took her to the hospital with a bleeding brain, a fractured skull and damage to her spinal cord.
Klein now admits she caused the injuries by shaking the baby and using blunt force trauma.
Three weeks after the baby's death, Klein spoke to 7 Eyewitness News proclaiming her innocence.
"I'm innocent, I did nothing to that baby," Klein said at the time.
Klein also said the baby had a bruise on her face when she was dropped off to be watched by her on February 21, two days before she was taken to the hospital.
The baby's family had repeatedly insisted Klein was responsible for Foster's death, and called for quick action by police to file charges.
More than five months after Foster died, Klein was arraigned in Niagara County Courton charges of second-degree murder and three separate counts of manslaughter.
In addition to pleading guilty Tuesday to manslaughter, Klein also admitted she sold fentanyl to a law enforcement officer in June 2018 and was behind a knife-point robbery in the Falls last Christmas Eve, according to the Niagara Gazzette.
Klein faces up to 25 years in prison for all three crimes when she is sentenced December 3rd.
