Brigitte Meckes, along with the child’s parents, were charged
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Sullivan County jury has convicted Brigitte Meckes of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and related offenses for failure to summon professional medical help for an ailing newborn baby following a home birth in Sullivan County in 2022.
Meckes was a friend of the child’s parents and acted as a midwife for the birth on or around Jan. 15, 2022. Shortly after the birth, the baby showed signs of severe distress. Meckes, who was not licensed to practice medical care, used unconventional methods to “treat” the child, who died about two days later.
Following a three-day trial in Sullivan County, the jury convicted Meckes on Wednesday of felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, and misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and concealing the death of a child. At the verdict, the judge revoked bail.
Meckes, of New York, will be sentenced at a later date.
“The death of this purely innocent baby boy is a tragedy beyond words — a tragedy that is compounded by the fact that it could have been prevented,” Attorney General Henry said. “This defendant, along with the child’s parents, knew the baby was in serious medical trouble and did nothing to help him. Instead, they allowed him to die and only contacted emergency responders after the baby was deceased.”
The Office of Attorney General presented testimony that Meckes and the child’s parents, Drew and Amy Hoenigke, were aware of the child’s dire condition. Text message evidence showed all three people were aware the baby was dying. No one called 9-1-1 for help.
Drew and Amy Hoenigke previously pleaded guilty to their respective roles.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating.
# # #