(WBZ)GARDNER A Gardner woman is facing charges in connection with the death of her two-year-old daughter.
The toddler was found unresponsive in the family's Grant Street home last Friday. Investigators said Raelynn Mascal suffered obvious traumatic injuries.
Michele Lepkowski, 32, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury and reckless child endangerment.
Lepkowski is being held on $100,000 cash bail and will be arraigned Thursday in Gardner District Court.
By Connie Paige and Michael Levenson, Globe Staff | May 25, 2007
GARDNER -- About a week before a 2-year-old Gardner girl died from injuries sustained in a beating the Department of Social Services was called to her home to investigate allegations that the child was being abused, an agency spokeswoman said.
Caseworkers devised a plan to have the girl live with her mother and grandmother and never be put in the care of the mother's boyfriend, who was on probation for indecent assault and battery. DSS said it was satisfied the plan would keep the child safe.
But yesterday, the mother, Michele Lepkowski, 32, was charged in Gardner District Court with beating the child, and the boyfriend, Luke Malizia, 21, who was at the home during the alleged assault, was charged with doing nothing to stop her.
Doctors who examined the girl, Raelynn Mascal, said she had died after suffering severe trauma to the head, face, and torso, according to court documents. Judge Patrick A. Fox said in court papers that Lepkowksi's beating "result[ed] in death of a 2-year-old child."
DSS spokeswoman Denise Monteiro said Lepkowksi was never considered a threat. "There was never a question of her abusing the child, up until this," Monteiro said in a telephone interview yesterday. "There was no history of any abuse alleged against the mother."
It was not the first time the agency had investigated Raelynn's family. In 2005, caseworkers received a complaint of domestic violence in Raelynn's home, said Monteiro. After they investigated, Lepkowski took out a restraining order against Raelynn's father, Patrick Mascal. He was later imprisoned, though it was not known yesterday on what charges. Caseworkers arranged a plan to put Raelynn in day care and provide counseling for Lepkowski. In 2006, the agency closed the case.
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