On April 19, 2020, three-month-old Luna O'Brien was taken to the UPMC Hospital in Muncy, Pennsylvania were she was unresponsive and soon after pronounced dead in the emergency department.
The Pennsylvania State Police were called regarding the infant that was brought in. Multiple search warrants were made to investigate the infant mother's phone and obtain her blood and DNA. She tested positive for methamphetamines, amphetamines, and marijuana the same day. Demsey Mae Long, Luna's mother had sent messages on Facebook that indicated she was high.
On the same day of Luna's death, about 4:00 p.m., Long's mother, Holly Jean Carey interviewed with the police, who related that Long had been using meth prior to her pregnancy and stopped using meth when she found out she was pregnant. Carey then said that on 4/17/2020, Long's boyfriend Tyler Wagner was with Long at the trailer at 181B Old Glade Run Road and also had a history of drug use. On 4/17/2020, police had responded to that address for a wanted person that was involved in a domestic disturbance with a firearm, and that person was hiding inside that residence. When police knocked, Long answered the door. She was visibly high. Due to the suspicious circumstances of Luna's death, the police felt it necessary to test Long for drug use immediately.
On April 19, 2020 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Carey heard Long scream from the porch. Long initially said she woke up about 9:30 a.m., she didn't call or text anyone and said she had a 'gut feeling' that Luna had suffocated. Long went back to the bedroom and saw Luna with blue lips and a corner of the pink blanket over Luna's face. Long said she attempted to startle her or shake her to wake up with negative results. She went out the door calling for Carey, who then ran into the house to get Luna.
Later, Long's sister Jade said she was called by Long about 11:00 a.m. saying she just woke up and the baby was still sleeping. Long was going to get Luna and they were both going to visit Jade. About ten minutes later, Long ran outside screaming.
Her story changed, giving a two hour window of when Long really realized that her daughter Luna was unresponsive, prior to going for help. Both Jade and Demsey were not telling the truth to investigators.
On June 8, 2020 Long was arrested in connection to her daughter, Luna's death.
Long continues to await trial. She was charged with 1 count of Endangering the welfare of a child and 1 count of involuntary manslaughter.
Comments