Mom abandoned blind, special-needs daughter to 'rot' and die, claimed she tried her 'very best every day': Police

A 50-year-old Pennsylvania parent allegedly killed her severely disabled daughter, allowing the teen to "rot" successful filth and dice aft prolonged neglect. Christina Harvey faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a dependent, unlawful restraint, and respective different transgression offenses related to the decease of Brandy Harvey, authorities announced.

According to a news release from the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office, Harvey's willful neglect straight caused the decease of her 18-year-old daughter, who was "nonverbal, legally blind, and wholly babelike connected others" for care.

"The allegations see that the unfortunate was denied basal aesculapian care, due hygiene, nutrition, and indispensable medicine implicit an extended play of time," the merchandise states. "Investigators documented conditions accordant with terrible neglect, yet resulting successful the victim's death."

Prosecutors emphasized the lawsuit highlights the "critical value of protecting those who are astir susceptible successful our community" and ensuring that caregivers are "held to the highest modular of responsibility."

"When idiosyncratic is entrusted with the attraction of a susceptible idiosyncratic — idiosyncratic who cannot talk for themselves, cannot spot for themselves and cannot support themselves — that work is absolute," District Attorney Brian Gallagher said successful a statement. "To wantonness that work and let a special-needs idiosyncratic to suffer, deteriorate, and yet dice nether specified deplorable conditions is arsenic disturbing arsenic it is criminal. For a genitor to let their kid to endure and rot similar this is unconscionable. My thoughts and prayers are with this young woman; whitethorn she yet beryllium astatine peace."

Court documents obtained by The Times-Tribune provided further details astir the horrific circumstances starring to the victim's death.

Officers with the Dickson City Police Department connected Dec. 10, 2025, responded to Harvey's location successful the 700 artifact of Carmalt Street regarding a study of an unresponsive woman. When constabulary arrived, exigency aesculapian unit were already performing CPR wrong the home, which was described arsenic overwhelmingly filthy and reeking of quality waste.

Investigators reportedly recovered the unfortunate lying connected a urine-soaked sofa that had sunken into its base, with what appeared to beryllium quality feces smeared connected the partition down it.

Medical unit transported the unfortunate to a hospital, wherever they documented extended injuries and signs of deterioration, including bedsores, bruising, ulcers, rotted teeth, necrotic skin, and terrible malnutrition, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Fox affiliate WOLF reported. Brandy Harvey died the pursuing day.

A consequent autopsy reportedly determined Brandy Harvey's origin of decease to beryllium neglect and ruled the mode a homicide. A forensic pathologist besides noted unfastened ulcers, utmost dental disease, and important swelling and discoloration successful the victim's extremities.

Investigators said the unfortunate required full-time attraction aft suffering a large aesculapian lawsuit arsenic an babe and relied wholly connected others for her regular needs. The unfortunate had besides reportedly not attended schoolhouse for months earlier her death.

Harvey reportedly served arsenic her daughter's fiscal payee, meaning she controlled tens of thousands of dollars successful Social Security and survivor's benefits. However, investigators alleged she utilized those funds "exclusively for idiosyncratic oregon residential expenses portion allowing the victim's carnal wellness and hygiene to deteriorate."

When questioned, Harvey allegedly claimed she had done her best, but besides acknowledged the shortcomings successful her care.

"She was my full world," she allegedly told investigators. "Maybe I didn't bash things right. Maybe I don't know. I conscionable don't know. But I tried my precise champion each time with her. She was my full heart."

Harvey is presently being held astatine the Lackawanna County Prison without enslaved and is scheduled to look successful tribunal for a preliminary proceeding connected April 29, records show.