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Mother of toddler killed by babysitter charged

Posted at 2:17 PM, Mar 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-23 14:17:27-04

The mother of a little boy who was killed by his babysitter is now facing charges in connection to his death.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced Friday that 27-year-old Heather Schoepflin has been arraigned in the Town of Marilla on one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Prosecutors say Schoepflin failed to seek medical care for her 2-year-old son, Ethan Bigham, even though he had visable bruises and other injuries after being babysat by then 17-year-old Devon VanDerWege in March 2017.

The abuse happened in a mobile home at Hillside Estates in Marilla.

Bigham later died from catastrophic brain damage in other injuries.

In February 2018, VanDerWege pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree for causing blunt force trauma that resulted in Bigham's death. He is set to be sentenced in April.

If convicted on all charges, Schoepflin faces up to a year in jail. She's expected back in court in April.

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