A York County woman pleaded guilty to killing a toddler left in her care Tuesday in York-Poquoson Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Kyla Denise Ziegenhagen copped a plea on two felony counts of child neglect and one count of felony second degree murder. Ziegenhagen has a sentencing hearing scheduled at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25.
The 33-year-old was arrested Aug. 14, 2014, and has been held ever since at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.
Felony murder is a charge that results when the accidental death of a person occurs during the commission of another felonious act. In this case, it was felony child neglect, according to York-Poquoson Sheriff’s office.
Ziegenhagen’s was babysitting the toddler and an 8-year-old when she left by themselves for several hours, according to court documents. During that time, police said she took her children and another child with her to the veterinarian’s office and on errands.
Investigators said the toddler became entangled in a car seat harness while trying to get out of the car seat. An autopsy showed she died from strangulation.
By the time Ziegenhagen went back to check on her, the toddler was cold to the touch, court documents state. Ziegenhagen tried to administer CPR, but the girl was later pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Two additional charges of child abuse and neglect against Ziegenhagen stem from her allegedly leaving the same 16-month-old girl and a 15-month-old toddler alone in her home earlier that same day while she went to McDonald’s, according to a criminal complaint.
Those two neglect charges were dropped. It was not clear this week who was caring for Ziegenhagen’s children.
Reach Canty at (757) 345-2341.
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