HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the parents of a newborn baby who died in Sullivan County in 2022 have pleaded guilty. The baby boy died two days after birth, and the parents and a third person were charged based upon failures to take reasonable action to summon medical assistance.
Drew Hoenigke, the baby’s father, pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person and concealing the death of a child. Amy Hoenigke, the child’s mother, pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault.
A Sullivan County Judge will impose sentences on a later date.
The parents and a third person, Brigitte Meckes, were charged after the newborn died on Jan. 17, 2022. Investigators determined the child was in respiratory distress, then suffered cardiac arrest. Evidence indicated that the parents and Meckes were aware of the severity of the baby’s medical situation, had the means and ability to call for help, but never did.
Text message evidence showed all three people were aware the baby was dying. No one called 9-1-1 for help.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating. The case against Meckes is pending. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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