Police: New Kensington mother left son, 3, in care of abusive boyfriend charged with killing him

A New Kensington 3-year-old who died after suffering alleged abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend had been treated for a broken bone in January, according to a criminal complaint supporting charges against the boy’s mother.

Mikel Fettermanwas in cardiac arrest when paramedics found him early March 26 in an apartment at Valley Royal Court. He was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he died nearly a month later.

An autopsy found Mikel died from blunt force trauma to his head.

Police charged the boy’s mother, Teresa Lynn Fetterman, 23, on Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter and other offenses. She was charged less than a week after police charged Keith Dale Lilly Jr., 31, with homicide following the boy’s death. Both were being held Wednesday in the Westmoreland County Prison.

Valerie Veltri, a court-appointed attorney representing Lilly, declined to comment Wednesday. No attorney was listed for Fetterman.

In court records, police, who previously identified Lilly as the boy’s stepfather, described Lilly as Fetterman’s “paramour.” New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer said Thursday the exact status of their relationship was not known.

Fetterman told authorities Lilly had been staying with her and her son since October or November.

According to court records, police and paramedics whotreated Mikel on March 26 saw bruises all over his body. At the hospital, doctors said he had a skull fracture, bleeding outside the brain, oral trauma, numerous bruises, fractures in various stages of healing and bleeding at the rectum.

A Children’s Hospital doctor found that some of Mikel’s injuries were old, with some having been documented by hospital or doctor office reports, police said in court records.

In the doctor’s opinion, Mikel had been a victim of abuse on more than one occasion.

Fetterman allegedly told police that Lilly had been aggressive toward her, she was aware of him beating their dog, and that Mikel was hurt more often since Lilly started staying with them.

Despite that, Fetterman allegedly admitted to leaving Mikel alone in Lilly’s care while she was at work and at other times.

Fetterman claimed Mikel suffered two black eyes while in Lilly’s care, which he blamed on the dog or some other accident. She claimed to have seen him punch Mikel in the chest once or twice as a method of discipline.

Police said they have interviewed an unidentified witness who claimed to have heard Lilly smack the boy and saw Fetterman punch him on the buttocks with a closed fist during a visit in late December.

Police said Fetterman tried to explain away Mikel’s injuries by blaming other family members and various accidents, including two falls down steps. Fetterman allegedly admitted to not taking him to a doctor after the falls or for any other injuries before March 26 with one exception.

Investigators said they learned that Fetterman had taken Mikel to the UPMC St. Margaret New Kensington Family Health Center, located in city hall, on Jan. 9. She claimed Mikel had hurt his left arm after falling out of bed.

An X-ray taken at an Allegheny Health Network facility Jan. 10 found Mikel had a fracture in his left collarbone. Police said Fetterman never took Mikel for the recommended follow-up care; she claimed the doctor only told her to keep his arm still.

An Allegheny Health Network spokesman declined to comment. A UPMC representative could not be reached for comment.

Police said Fetterman told them Mikel broke his collarbone while she was at work and Lilly was taking care of him. She said Lilly told her that Mikel hit his shoulder on a table after jumping off a couch.

Fetterman told police that Mikel in February had a red mark to the side of an ear that turned large and black and blue. She said Lilly blamed Fetterman’s mother. Lilly and Fetterman said they did not take him to a doctor because he was acting normally and they assumed a doctor would not see him because of the coronavirus.

Fetterman told police Mikel started having episodes of holding his breath, or “fits” that Lilly told her about and which she also witnessed. Although Lilly told her they were seizures, Mikel was still not taken for care.

Westmoreland County detectives searched Fetterman and Lilly’s apartment March 26. Investigators said the apartment was dirty, and that they found beer cans, smoking pipes, tobacco and marijuana scattered on the floor. Fetterman told police she allowed Mikel to sleep in the living room.

In addition to involuntary manslaughter, Fetterman is charged with endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault and drug offenses.

Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call city police at 724-339-7533 or county detectives at 724-830-3949.