CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. (Gray News) – A mother is charged with second-degree murder after her 12-year-old daughter died from untreated diabetes.
According to the Post-Journal, Mya Smith died in April of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of untreated diabetes. Her mother, Ashley Bertino, is accused of having a “depraved indifference to human life,” according to Chautauqua County prosecutors.
Several witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing on Thursday and Friday, according to the Post-Journal.
Several witnesses said that Mya and her siblings “appeared unkempt,” like they had not been bathing. Witnesses said the children wore mismatched shoes, socks with holes, dirty clothes, and even once, Mya went to school in a bathing suit because she “didn’t have any clean clothes.”
Mya’s bus driver Colleen Smith said she provided care packages to Mya that included shampoo, soap and even water because she was very thirsty.
Smith said two weeks before Mya’s death, she only came to school once or twice. Her siblings allegedly told her that Mya was “really sick” and “can’t get out of bed.”
Amy Bartell, the Dean of Students at Silver Creek Central School, said that she emailed back and forth with Bertino, who would protest if Mya wanted to see a school nurse and got upset that Mya’s gym teacher wanted her to get a note from a doctor, according to the Post-Journal.
Bertino’s neighbor Jill Meyer said on the day Mya died, her brother told her that he had been taking care of her all day. She said the boy asked Bertino to call 911, but that she would not and said that Mya “was being dramatic.”
Bertino had scheduled a doctor’s appointment for Mya before her death, but Juliana Post, an employee at the clinic, said a visit never took place. Post said Bertino said Mya was vomiting, but “gave no indication that there was anything seriously wrong” and Bertino was told to take Mya to the hospital if things got worse.
Chautauqua County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Faulk explained during the hearing that diabetes can turn into diabetic ketoacidosis if untreated. He said symptoms include vomiting and being extremely thirsty. He said any medical professional would have been able to identify that she was diabetic.
After Mya’s death, her siblings were removed from the home.
Bertino remains in custody, according to police records.
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