— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A North Whitehall Township woman who asphyxiated a one-year-old girl in her care faces prison time.
Brenda Broadwater, 49, pleaded guilty in December to Aggravated Assault – Victim Less than 13, a felony, and endangering the welfare of children – parent/guardian commits offense, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.
Judge Robert L. Steinberg sentenced Broadwater today to 18 months to 48 months in prison, according to Holihan.
Here are the facts from the District Attorney:
Feb. 26, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a state prison sentence for a North Whitehall Township woman convicted of asphyxiating and strangling a 1-year-old girl under her care as a foster mother.
Brenda Broadwater, DOB 5/12/1975, pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2024 to charges of Aggravated Assault –Victim less than 13, a felony of the first degree; and Endangering the Welfare of Children –Parent/Guardian Commits Offense, a felony of the second degree.
The agreement for Broadwater called for a minimum sentence capped at 36 months in state prison. At a hearing today before Judge Robert L. Steinberg, Broadwater was sentenced to serve 18 to 48 months in prison.
On Jan. 26, 2024, Pennsylvania State Police received a call from Lehigh County Communications Center about a 1-year-old girl, identified as J.K., in cardiac arrest at Broadwater’s home at 4149 Coplay Creek Road in North Whitehall Township.
The 911 call revealed that at approximately 7:41 p.m., a male caller said J.K. was playing in a stroller and got a strap wrapped around her neck.
Broadwater was the foster mother of J.K., as well as two other children at the home.
J.K. was diagnosed with a mild anoxic brain injury resulting in expressive aphasia and ataxia, in the setting of strangulation.
J.K.’s injuries included verbal, speech and coordination deficits that will require various types of
rehabilitation and therapies. It is yet unknown if the assault caused permanent injuries for J.K.
The investigation determined Broadwater pushed a blanket into J.K.’s mouth then left the child alone and improperly restrained in a stroller. Ligature marks to J.K.’s neck and injuries to her lower lip from the blanket were documented.
The case was investigated by Trooper Taylor Dietrich and was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District
Attorney Sara A. Moyer and Kristi Green.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 