HOLLIDAYSBURG - An Altoona woman whose malnourished six-week-old infant was near death when found nearly three years ago by a county child welfare caseworker was sentenced Tuesday to five to 20 years in jail.
Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard imposed the negotiated sentence on Katie Lynn Rowles, 32, who rendered guilty pleas in December to felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.
Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky recognized county Children, Youth & Families caseworker Allison Morgan for finding the emaciated infant on May 27, 2021, and Altoona Police Det. Shane Strobel for his investigation leading to the criminal charges.
Elensky presented photos of the infant that Morgan encountered after unsuccessful attempts to contact Rowles, then making another attempt by stopping at Rowles' residence on the 1100 block of 20th Street.
"What was found was atrocious," Elensky said.
Morgan became emotional in court as she recalled the case that developed after Rowles allowed her to enter the house and told her the infant was upstairs.
Morgan said she found the infant lying face down, which she recognized as unsafe.
When the baby was turned over, Morgan said she saw his bruised face and chapped lips, prompting her to summon AMED and police.
Criminal charges indicate that an AMED responder removed the infant's onesie, revealing the infant's loose skin and emaciated condition.
At that time, the infant weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, down from the 8 pounds, 8 ounces when discharged four weeks earlier from the hospital.
Morgan said Rowles showed little concern or reaction as arrangements were made to transport the baby to UPMC Altoona.
"I carried her child outside and he was taken to the hospital, then life flighted to Pittsburgh," Morgan said.
Rowles, who wiped tears from her eyes in court, admitted to using methamphetamine and suboxone at the time of the child's birth.
Rowles also started to tell Bernard about her mother's role in caring for the infant. But Bernard reminded Rowles that she had already rendered guilty pleas and asked if she wanted to withdraw them.
The judge cautioned Rowles that a withdrawal of the pleas would position her case for trial, where a jury could see the photos of the emaciated infant and that convictions would lead to more than the recommended five to 20 years' incarceration.
In response, Rowles said she was not withdrawing her guilty pleas.
Criminal charges indicate that when Strobel questioned Rowles about the infant's condition, Rowles told him she bought formula for the baby and took the baby to three medical appointments.
Strobel, however, found that the amount of formula she purchased would have lasted 13 days during the 31-day period the child was in Rowles' care after being discharged from the hospital. Strobel's investigation also found no evidence of medical appointments.
Elensky said a Pittsburgh doctor who examined the infant deemed him to be within 48 hours of cardiac arrest or death.
"I agree with the doctor," Strobel told Bernard in court. "I don't think the baby would have survived another day in the house."
Bernard directed Rowles to undergo a mental health and drug and alcohol evaluation and to follow through with recommendations.
"It is obvious, you do need a mental health evaluation," the judge said before referencing how Rowles' drug use affected her infant child.
"This is a prime example of how drug abuse affects kids every day," the judge said.
Morgan also reported to Bernard that the child, who will turn three years old this year, started improving after being hospitalized. She said the boy has continued to improve in foster care and is expected to be adopted.
The judge praised Morgan for her persistence and for her recognition of an infant in need of immediate help.
"Thank you on behalf of our community," Bernard said.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.