Charge against mother to stand
A Fayette County judge ruled that the criminal homicide charge brought against a mother accused of killing her 2-year-old son more than 30 years ago will stand. In a brief ruling, Judge John F. Wagner Jr. found that the testimony of a forensic pathologist presented sufficient evidence to show that the manner of Alfred Masciarelli Jr.’s death was homicide.
Late last year, Glenda Masciarelli, 52, of Masontown was charged with criminal homicide for allegedly drowning her son in a Georges Township creek near Route 857 on Sept. 26, 1976.
State police said Masciarelli told authorities in 1976 that a man snatched her 2-year-old son from her arms as they took a walk. Neighbors later found the child’s body in 1 1/2 feet of water.
Last week, Dr. Cyril H. Wecht testified that the water would have come to the boy’s waist, making it likely that he would have been able to get out of the water. Wecht indicated the boy died from asphyxiation due to drowning.
To make his determination, Wecht examined photos of the boy from the scene and at the time of the child’s autopsy. He said he found no indication that any other trauma would have led to the child’s death.
Wagner found that Wecht’s testimony satisfied a court rule that requires evidence independent of Masciarelli’s recent statements to police to show that a crime occurred.
Police were able to make an arrest in the case last year after trooper Jeffrey Ramsey reviewed the file and re-interviewed Masciarelli. Police allege she told a polygraph examiner that she made up the story about a man taking her son and said she might as well go to jail.
However, Masciarelli never made a direct admission that she killed her son.