Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.
Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.

Virginia Woman Arrested in Death of 3-Year-Old Child in Chester County

Posted by
1 min read
September 13, 2024

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Virginia woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child in Chester County earlier this month, according to local authorities.

Imani Lewis, 28, of Richmond, Virginia, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children after the child, whom she was caring for as a nanny, was found dead in a pond at Wilson Farm Park on September 2, 2024. Lewis was arrested on Friday by Tredyffrin Township Police and arraigned with bail set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 26.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe called the incident “a sad and tragic case we all wish never happened.” Tredyffrin Police Chief Michael Beaty added, “This is a devastating death for the victim’s family. Our entire community has felt the effects of it.”

According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Wilson Farm Park at around 6:49 p.m. on September 2, following a report of a missing 3-year-old child. The non-verbal child had been under Lewis’ supervision when she called 911 to report the disappearance. Officers soon located the child unresponsive in a stormwater retention pond near the park.

Emergency responders performed life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced dead. Investigators later determined that Lewis had been distracted by her cellphone, making calls and sending text messages while the child wandered off. Video surveillance confirmed that Lewis was using her phone and failed to adequately supervise the child at the time of the incident.

Lewis remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version