Toddler dies from severe diaper rash

updated 10:49 a.m. ET March 9, 2005

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The mother and grandmother of a toddler who died in December face criminal charges for allegedly neglecting his severe diaper rash, leading to a fatal infection.

Amy Livingston, 27, of Johnstown, was charged Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the Dec. 12 death of her 15-month-old son, Harley. She was charged with a second count of child endangerment because another son, 3-year-old Hunter, also had severe diaper rash, authorities said.

Her mother, Evelyn Ann Mrsnik, 60, was charged with child endangerment, because she was a supervisor at a day care center Harley attended. Mrsnik had an obligation under state law to report the alleged neglect, District Attorney David Tulowitzki said.

'Worst I've ever seen'
The younger boy developed sepsis, a life-threatening infection, because the rash was so bad, Cambria County Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski said.

“It’s probably the worst I’ve ever seen,” Kwiatkowski said.

Mrsnik didn’t immediately return a message left at her home Tuesday night. It was not immediately clear whether she or her daughter have attorneys. The Associated Press could not immediately locate a home telephone number for Livingston.

Both defendants face a preliminary hearing March 17. Involuntary manslaughter involving a victim under 12 carries a sentence of up to 10 years.

Livingston’s husband, David, was deployed by the Army when the boy died, authorities said.

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