Original article no longer available
2WGRZ
Posted by: Matt Pitts, Producer
Created: 5/30/2008 11:15:29 PM Updated: 6/2/2008 3:08:34 PM
Marcia Mitchell, 27, of Batavia, pleaded not guilty in Buffalo City Court on Saturday morning to attempted murder charges. She was arrested on Friday night for allegedly trying to suffocate her own child with a pillow at Buffalo’s Women and Children’s Hospital.
Investigators say the woman brought her 7-month-old baby girl to the hospital earlier this week for treatment and was staying with the infant in a hospital room.
The baby’s father, Dave Rooney, tells 2 On Your Side the baby was hospitalized after suffering a seizure.
Hospital staff called police after they allegedly saw Mitchell attempting to suffocate the child with a pillow.
The staff noticed the alleged incident on a camera used to monitor the baby’s care and condition in her room.
Investigators say the baby girl, who is less than one year old, is doing well.
Rooney tells Two On Your Side Mitchell suffers from depression but was taking medication.
The family recently lost their house in an apartment fire. Rooney believes the stress from that and the baby’s hospitalization was just too much.
“(Reporter: Do you think maybe because she knew she was on camera this was a cry for help?) She’s not an idiot,” said Rooney. “She knew she was on camera so I would imagine it is some kind of cry for help. It’s a horrific cry. You don’t ever hurt children.”
Mitchell is being held at the Erie County Holding Center without bail. She is due back in court on June 5th.
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