Mom accused of strangulation and staging infant son’s death

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LOS ANGELES, Feb 3, (Agencies): A 21-year-old Pennsylvania woman, Patricia Hullenbaugh, faces charges of criminal homicide, strangulation, child endangerment, and possession of a crime instrument in connection with the tragic death of her 9-month-old son, Waylon Long. The Indiana Borough Police Department reported her arrest nearly three weeks after the infant’s demise.

Authorities responded to a distress call on Jan. 6 at Hullenbaugh’s Indiana Borough residence, finding Waylon unresponsive and without a pulse. Although CPR efforts initially revived him, Waylon tragically passed away on Jan 11. The investigation unfolded, revealing inconsistencies in Hullenbaugh’s statements.

Initially claiming to find Waylon “hanging partially outside the crib,” Hullenbaugh altered her account during subsequent interviews. On Jan 24, she confessed to putting a blanket over her son’s head until he stopped crying, causing him to cease breathing. Rather than seeking help, she reportedly manipulated his position to conceal her involvement, placing him between crib slats to simulate an accident.

Hullenbaugh allegedly delayed waking up the child’s father, Kody Long, by 15 minutes after the incident. Long expressed grief over losing his son, describing Waylon as a happy and beloved child. In addition to homicide and strangulation charges, Hullenbaugh is accused of child endangerment and possession of a crime instrument. She is currently held without bail, with her next court appearance scheduled for Feb. 8. As of now, no attorney information is available, and it remains unclear whether she has entered a plea.

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