SKOWHEGAN — A judge has dismissed a felony manslaughter charge against Kelli Murphy, 12, in the death of Brooklyn Foss-Greenaway, the 3 -month-old Clinton girl who died two years ago while staying with Murphy’s mother.
The order is the first step in an apparent plea agreement reached by defense and prosecuting attorneys.
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Lawyers said they reached a deal in which the felony manslaughter charge against Murphy would be dropped in favor of a misdemeanor charge and extensive counseling for the girl.
Judge Charles LaVerdierre dismissed the manslaughter charge “without prejudice” Wednesday morning in an open session of Skowhegan District Court. The judge then ordered the case continued to a closed session, also being held today.
Before the proceedings began, Nicole Greenaway, Brooklyn’s mother, stood on the steps of the courthouse and held aloft a poster filled with pictures of her daughter, who died in 2012.
She said a deal to drop the manslaughter charge would be an injustice.
On July 8, 2012, Murphy’s mother, Amanda Huard, was babysitting Brooklyn overnight. Greenaway says that police investigators told her that her daughter died while in Murphy’s bedroom and an autopsy revealed traces of Vyvanse, a medication prescribed for Murphy, in the infant’s system.
A set of pictures on Greenaway’s poster showed Brooklyn’s face after she died. The photos show bruises, which her mother said investigators told her were consistent with suffocation.
“I personally think that she will do this again,” Greenaway said of Murphy. “I think she is on the path to being a sociopath.”
Greenaway said before the hearing began that she didn’t support the deal and wanted charges to be brought against Huard, Murphy’s mother. Prosecutors have said charges against Huard are unlikely.
Greenaway, who worked with Huard at Elmwood Primary Care in Waterville when the incident happened, said she and Huard have never had a heartfelt discussion about what happened.
Greenaway said she would have been receptive to an apology in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. But now there is nothing Huard or Murphy can say, Greenaway said.
“They can’t say anything to bring my daughter back,” she said.
Greenaway also said that she feels Huard is the most responsible party for her child’s death but that Deputy Attorney General Bill Stokes told her last week that under Maine law, charges could not successfully be brought against Huard.
Greenaway said that her family has been scarred by the loss of Brooklyn. Greenaway said she is receiving treatment for emotional issues stemming from the trauma, including panic attacks and that her other daughter, Madison, now 4, has nightmares she associates with the incident.
This story will be updated.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling — 861-9287 mhhetling@centralmaine.com Twitter: @hh_matt
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