Whitman Woman Arraigned On Manslaughter Charge In Toddler's Death

WHITMAN, MA — The Whitman mother charged with manslaughter in the death of her 2-year-old daughter in December pleaded not guilty to the charge in Brockton Superior Court on Tuesday.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said the charges against Shaniqua Leonard, 29, were upgraded on Monday from reckless endangerment of a child to manslaughter in the death of 2-year-old Lyric Farrell based on the medical examiner's report that the victim died from blunt force trauma to the head, and a Whitman police investigation.

Leonard was arrested late Monday afternoon.

The state requested $100,000 bail, with Superior Court Judge Maynard Kirpalani setting bail at $25,000 with home confinement.

The DA's Office said the 2-year-old was found unresponsive on Dec. 28 when Whitman police responded to a 911 call at Leonard's Washington Street home. The toddler was taken to Brockton Hospital, and then to Boston's Children's Hospital, and diagnosed with a subdural hematoma on her brain.

Farrell was taken off life support on Dec. 31.

The DA's Office said the investigation showed Farrell was showing signs of mental distress prior to Dec. 28 and was in need of medical assistance that Leonard did not obtain.

The medical examiner's report Farrell suffered damage to her optic nerve and retina that could not have been suffered, as police said Leonard told them, by her banging her own head.

Leonard is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 22.