The mother of a Winooski toddler found dead in April is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning in Burlington on a charge of second-degree murder, police said.
Police suspect Nytosha Laforce, 28, of Malletts Bay Avenue of killing 15-month-old Peighton Geraw on April 4.
That day emergency medical workers responded to Laforce’s house at 1:41 p.m. after a report of a 15-month-old boy who had stopped breathing. They took Peighton to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead just after 2 p.m., according to police.
The Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations is handling the case, which is ongoing. An autopsy released earlier this month ruled Peighton’s death a homicide. The cause of death was listed by the state medical examiner as “trauma of head and neck,” according to police.
Police investigators arrested Laforce on Tuesday. She was already being housed at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility on unrelated charges.
Peighton was under the supervision of the Department for Children and Families, the Burlington Free Press has reported.
Gov. Peter Shumlin has initiated several investigations of DCF following this death and the February death of Poultney 2-year-old Dezirae Sheldon.
Last week, he called for restructuring within the department including hiring more social workers.
A Senate panel also probing the agency plans to hold meetings next week to hear from residents around the state about their concerns with DCF.
