How Could You? Hall of Shame-Noah Pryce aka Noah Pryce-Harding case-Child Death UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Broken Bow, Nebraska, foster mom Brittney Pryce,24, “made her first appearance in Custer County Court””almost six months after the death of her 20-month-old foster child,” Noah J. Pryce, also known as Noah Pryce-Harding.
“Pryce, 24, of Broken Bow is charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse for the Nov. 22, 2013, death of Noah J. Pryce, also known as Noah Pryce-Harding.
Brittney Pryce appeared at 9 a.m. Monday with her attorney, P. Stephen Potter. Judge Tami K. Schendt presided.
During the arraignment, the court read an amended complaint, which added to the child abuse charge. According to court documents, the original charge said Brittney Pryce “knowingly and intentionally cause(d)” a child to be placed in a situation that endangered his life or physical or mental health or cruelly confined or punished him resulting in a death. The amended charge adds that Brittney Pryce caused or permitted Noah to be placed in such a situation, and it adds the possibility that she allowed him to “be deprived of necessary care.”
The court also set a preliminary hearing for Brittney Pryce at 3 p.m. June 2 in Custer County Court.
Pryce is currently free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, which was filed March 27. She was originally scheduled to appear on April 28, but Potter filed a motion of continuance because he had a hearing in Lincoln County District Court.
Her mother, Diane Hill, 51, of Broken Bow is also charged in Noah’s death. She appeared in court on May 5, and her preliminary hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. June 2 in Custer County Court.
The charges stem from an incident that happened Nov. 17, 2013.
Noah and his then-infant brother were wards of the state after the younger child was injured in an incident in Kearney. They were placed with their uncle, Richard Pryce, and his wife, Brittney.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Brittney Pryce asked her mother, Hill, to come over to watch the kids while she ran errands around Broken Bow for about an hour.
When Brittney Pryce returned, she said Hill told her that Noah had “tripped over a toy and hit his head on a wooden rocking horse,” according to the affidavit. Later, Brittney Pryce said that Hill told her Noah had fallen off the rocking horse.
Noah was taken to Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow, then to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and eventually to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he died. The Broken Bow Police Department was notified that his injuries were suspicious.
The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt force injury of the head, and the death was ruled a homicide.
Hill, who cancelled an interview with authorities, is also free on bond.
If convicted, both women face 20 years to life on each of the counts.”
Preliminary hearing set for area woman charged in child’s death[Grand Island Independent 5/12/14 by Laura Sedam]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update:“Brittney Pryce was arraigned in Custer County Court on May 12 on charges of 2nd Degree Murder and Child Abuse, both Class 1B Felonies.
The charges against Pryce stem from the death of a 20 month old child that was in her care as a foster child in November of 2013. The child was transported to Melham Medical Center and later transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and on to the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he later died. It was initially believed that the child suffered some sort of seizure but EMS and medical personnel reported seeing extensive bruising on the child’s face and he was having difficulty breathing at the time he was initially transported.
After the child passed away an autopsy was performed and it was determined that the cause of death was homicide which led to an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol and the arrest of Pryce on March 25.
On June 2 Pryce was arraigned again in County Court on an amended charge of Child Abuse, a Class 1B Felony and a preliminary hearing was held in Custer County Court to determine if there was enough evidence to have the case bound over the Custer County District Court.
The only witness in the preliminary hearing was Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Michael Dowling. Dowling testified that he was contacted by the Broken Bow Police Department to investigate the death of the child. After hearing the evidence presented, Custer County Judge Tami Schendt determined that there was sufficient evidence and the case was bound over to District Court and Pryce will be required to appear on July 10 at 9:30 am. ”
Brittney Pryce Appears for Prelminary Hearing in Custer County Court [Sandhill Express 6/2/14 ]
Update 2:”One of the two women charged in the death of Broken Bow toddler, Noah Pryce had her case dismissed by the prosecutor.
Diane Hill was charged with second degree child abuse resulting in death along with Brittney Pryce in the November death of Noah Pryce. Hill’s case was dismissed on July 2.
Pryce’s second-degree murder charge was dropped. She is currently only charged with child abuse of the second degree.
The Custer County Attorney wasn’t available for comment on Monday.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, the Nebraska State Patrol says Pryce was taken by ambulance to Jennie M. Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow.
At that time doctors notified the Broken Bow Police were of a suspicious head injury sustained by the toddler.
After being transferred by medical helicopter first to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and then to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NSP says Noah Pryce died of his injuries.
On November 24, NSP became the lead agency in the continuing investigation into the death of Pryce. Troopers say the investigation showed the toddler suffered a life threatening injury on Sunday, November 17, while in the care of Brittney Pryce and Diane Hill.
Troopers say Pryce and her husband Richard Pryce were the guardians of Noah Pryce, who was a ward of the State of Nebraska. The investigation concluded the injuries suffered by the toddler occurred at the Pryce home, 1338 South E Street, in Broken Bow.
Pryce and Hill were taken into custody on March 25, 2014.”
Update: Woman Dismissed of Charges in Toddler’s Death[!001 Now 7/9/14 ]
Update 3: “A trial date is set for the woman charged in the death of a Broken Bow toddler.
Twenty-four-year-old Brittney Pryce pleaded not guilty Thursday in Custer County District Court.
NSP says 20-month-old Noah Pryce sustained a suspicious head injury while in the care of Pryce and her mother Diane Hill.They say he later died in an Omaha Hospital.
Pryce’s trial is set for February 9th.
Diane Hill was charged with second degree child abuse resulting in death along with Brittney Pryce in the November death of Noah Pryce. Hill’s case was dismissed on July 2.
Pryce’s second-degree murder charge was dropped. She is currently only charged with child abuse of the second degree.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, the Nebraska State Patrol says Pryce was taken by ambulance to Jennie M. Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow.
At that time doctors notified the Broken Bow Police were of a suspicious head injury sustained by the toddler.
After being transferred by medical helicopter first to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and then to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NSP says Noah Pryce died of his injuries.
On November 24, NSP became the lead agency in the continuing investigation into the death of Pryce. Troopers say the investigation showed the toddler suffered a life threatening injury on Sunday, November 17, while in the care of Brittney Pryce and Diane Hill.
Troopers say Pryce and her husband Richard Pryce were the guardians of Noah Pryce, who was a ward of the State of Nebraska. The investigation concluded the injuries suffered by the toddler occurred at the Pryce home, …, in Broken Bow.
Pryce and Hill were taken into custody on March 25, 2014.”
Update: Trial Date Set in Broken Bow Toddler’s Death[1011 now 8/22/14]
Um… did Brittany Pryce have reason to believe that her mother might physically abuse the toddler? If not, I can’t see why she’d be charged.
Hill’s story of the injury sounds plausible–or at least possible– on the face of it. Far more so than Laura Shatto’s account of Max’s fatal injury. Maybe there’s reason for suspicion that isn’t given in the article.
Or maybe Pryce and Hill are poor women, and their conviction wouldn’t be detrimental to the cause of international adoption.