Dauphin County Woman Charged in Baby’s Fatal Suffocation
Middletown, PA – A tragic incident has led to the arrest of Jenna Beachley, a 25-year-old woman from Dauphin County, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment following the death of her 2-month-old daughter, Azriel Beachley. Authorities allege that the infant suffocated after Jenna rolled onto her while they slept in her apartment on the morning of October 12, 2023.
The events unfolded after Jenna and a roommate spent the night at a local bar, Hops and Barley. Before their outing, Jenna’s mother had come to babysit Azriel. Upon returning home around 2 a.m., Jenna reportedly created a makeshift nest with blankets for Azriel and fell asleep. She claimed she was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, stating she had consumed two or three shots and a beer earlier that night.
However, when Jenna awoke around 6:50 a.m. and found her daughter unresponsive, she attempted CPR. Despite her efforts, Azriel was pronounced dead upon arrival at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center.
An autopsy revealed signs of suffocation, including swelling in the brain and rib marks on Azriel’s lungs, leading investigators to believe Jenna’s sleep position contributed to her daughter’s death. Although a blood test later showed Jenna had a blood alcohol content of 0.033%, police suspect it was higher when the incident occurred.
A preliminary hearing is set for December 11, and public reaction has been one of sorrow and disbelief, as Jenna penned a heartfelt tribute to Azriel, expressing her profound love and loss.
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