March 19, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A 35-year-old Coplay woman has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after her daughter died while sleeping in the same bed, or “co-sleeping,” according to a statement from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Coplay Borough Police Chief Ryan Emerich.
Katrina Pantuso was arraigned March 13.
The statement from law enforcement said two-month-old girl identified only as “L.P.” died Nov. 4, 2025.
Pantuso told police she had been sleeping with the infant, and next to her bed, police found what they believed to be marijuana.
“Pantuso’s blood was tested on the day of her daughter’s death and showed positive results for the
presence of methamphetamine, cannabinoids and methadone,” according to the joint statement.
The release also cites medical evidence:
— An autopsy completed by a doctor with Forensic Pathology Associates also lists L.P.’s cause of
death to be Probable Asphyxia and notes the “combination of bed sharing in an adult bed with
pillows and blankets with an adult under the influence of a sedating medication such as
methadone and a lividity pattern consistent with face-down positioning suggests that the death
may have occurred due to asphyxia and/or overlay.”
Pantuso is in Lehigh County jail, with bail set at $100,000.
She had been warned against “co-sleeping” according to the press release.
As the release notes:
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed
is merely an accusation; and the accused, Katrina Pantuso, is presumed innocent until and
unless proven guilty.
Here’s the statement from District Attorney Holihan and Chief Emerich:
March 19, 2026
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Coplay Borough Police Chief Ryan Emerich announce a
woman is charged after taking drugs and co-sleeping with her 2-month-old daughter, killing the
victim.
Katrina Pantuso, DOB 6/19/1990, of Coplay, was arraigned March 13, 2026 on felony charges of
Involuntary Manslaughter, Endangering the Welfare of Children and a misdemeanor charge of
Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
Pantuso is in Lehigh County Jail under $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10
a.m. March 20, 2026 before Magisterial District Judge Rashid Santiago.
Around 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2025, Coplay Borough Police Chief Ryan Emerich responded to
120 S. Front St. in the borough for a report of an infant not breathing.
Despite efforts from first responders at the scene, the infant, identified only by her initials as
L.P., was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
L.P. died from Probable Asphyxia and the manner of death could not be determined by the
Lehigh County Coroner.
Pantuso is L.P.’s biological mother. She told police she had been co-sleeping with L.P. in her
bed. Next to the bed, police found a bassinette as well as a leafy substance suspected to be
marijuana on a nearby desk.
Pantuso’s blood was tested on the day of her daughter’s death and showed positive results for the
presence of methamphetamine, cannabinoids and methadone.
An autopsy completed by a doctor with Forensic Pathology Associates also lists L.P.’s cause of
death to be Probable Asphyxia and notes the “combination of bed sharing in an adult bed with
pillows and blankets with an adult under the influence of a sedating medication such as
methadone and a lividity pattern consistent with face-down positioning suggests that the death
may have occurred due to asphyxia and/or overlay.”
The report also noted injuries L.P. had on her face and scalp that may have been caused by
overlay, but noted “inflicted head trauma cannot be excluded.”
Pantuso’s cellphone was analyzed by the Officer David M. Petzold Memorial Digital Forensics
Laboratory of Lehigh County.
Messages were recovered showing Pantuso had used drugs the day of her daughter’s death and
there were previous occasions she had fed L.P. and fallen asleep, dropping the victim on the
floor.
Evidence showed that Pantuso had been warned several times about co-sleeping and educated
about the dangers of doing so. The investigation also revealed that the bassinette found next to
the bed had been provided to Pantuso as part of the effort to prevent her from co-sleeping with
L.P.
This case was investigated by Coplay Borough Police Chief Ryan Emerich, Lehigh County
Special Victims’ Unit Detective Thomas Galloway and will be prosecuted by Chief Deputy
District Attorney Sara A. Moyer.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed
is merely an accusation; and the accused, Katrina Pantuso, is presumed innocent until and
unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 