How Could You? Hall of Shame-Chassie Pietrolungo 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 Pueblo, Colorado, foster parents Sarah Finn, 23, and Paul Finn, 36 are facing charges.
“Sarah Finn is facing a charge of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, a class 3 felony.”
“Paul Finn is facing a charge of withholding proper medical care, a class 4 felony.”
“Police were called to the hospital Thursday afternoon after a child was brought in with injuries after reportedly falling down the stairs. The child was unresponsive.
An emergency room doctor told officers the 2-year-old girl was suffering from a brain bleed and had injuries to her face and eyes. She also had bruises on her buttocks.
The girl was flown to a Colorado Springs hospital and was reported to be in critical condition.
Officers spoke with Sarah Finn, 23, and Paul Finn, 36. Both said they were in the process of adopting the child through the Fost-Adopt program.
Police say the two changed their stories several times during their interviews and are now facing criminal charges.”
“Both were booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center.
The child was still in critical condition at last check.
The investigation is ongoing.”
Pueblo foster parents facing charges in child abuse case[KRDO 8/22/14]
“A 2-year-old child is in critical condition after falling down the stairs–and police believe her foster parents are responsible.
Sarah Finn, 23, has been charged with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, and 36-year-old Paul Finn has been charged with withholding proper medical care. Both have been booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center.
According to Pueblo police, fire and rescue personnel were called to a home…, where a little girl was unconscious after falling down the stairs. Police say she was suffering from head trauma, had facial and eye injuries, and bruising on her body. She was airlifted to a hospital in Colorado Springs, where she remains in critical condition.
Police say they spoke to the Finns at the hospital, who said they were in the process of adopting the toddler through a foster program. During the course of an interview with the couple, police say their story changed several times.
The couple was arrested after a search warrant was executed in their home.
The investigation is still ongoing.”
Pueblo Foster Parents Accused Of Child Abuse[KKTV 8/22/14]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: “The toddler who was believed to have been abused while under the foster care of a Pueblo couple has died, according to the Pueblo Police Department.
She was identified as 2-year-old Chassie Pietrolungo.
Chassie was in a fost-adopt program, meaning she was going to soon be adopted by her foster parents, Paul and Sarah Finn. Both are now facing charges related to child abuse.
Twenty-three-year-old Sarah Finn is being charged with Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and 36-year-old Paul Finn is being charged with Withholding Proper Medical Care.
It was last Thursday afternoon when officers were called to a Pueblo hospital on the report of child abuse.
Emergency responders had earlier responded to a report of a child who had fallen down the stairs and was unresponsive at a home in the 300 block of East Orman Avenue.
According to Pueblo police, an emergency room physician said the girl was suffering from a brain bleed, had injuries to her face and eyes and had extensive bruising to her buttocks.
The girl, now identified as Chassie Pietrolungo, was immediately flown to a Colorado Springs hospital in critical condition. Pueblo police said Chassie died at about 2:45 a.m., Wednesday
Officers spoke with both Paul and Sarah Finn at the hospital. They said they were in the process of adopting the child through the Fost-adopt program.
An investigation was immediately started and police said Paul and Sarah both changed their stories several times during interviews.
A search warrant was executed at their home for photos and evidence of child abuse. Police did not describe what was found but said the pair was ultimately charged.
Sarah remains at the Pueblo County Detention Center.
Since the child died, police said the ongoing investigation is now considered a death investigation. ”
Toddler believed to have been abused while in foster care dies[Fox 21 8/27/14 by Travis Ruiz]
“A couple in Pueblo has been arrested after the death of their 2-year-old foster daughter.
Chassie Pietrolungo died early Wednesday morning after a week in the hospital, according to the Pueblo Police Department.
Sarah Finn, 23, and Paul Finn, 36, told doctors the girl fell down the stairs and was unconscious, police said.
An emergency room doctor told police the child was suffering from a brain bleed and had injuries to her face and eyes. She also had extensive bruising to her buttocks, police said.
“Child abuse was believed to be a factor in the child’s injuries,” investigators stated.
The Finns were in the process of adopting the child through the Fostadopt program, police said.
Sarah was charged with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, but that charge is expected to be amended now that the child has died. Sarah is being held at the Pueblo County Detention Center.
Paul was charged with withholding proper medical care.”
Foster parents charged in death of 2-year-old Pueblo girl[The Denver Channel 8/27/14 by Anica Padilla]
Update 2:“A woman accused in a deadly child abuse case is out of jail and KKTV has learned it’s because she is pregnant.
Police say Sarah Finn and her Husband Paul were the 2-year-old victim’s foster parents.
Sarah, 23, was initially charged with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, and 36-year-old Paul was charged with withholding proper medical care.
Chassie Pietrolungo, 2, was taken to the hospital, but later died.
According to Pueblo police, fire and rescue personnel were called to a home.., where a little girl was unconscious after falling down the stairs. Police say she was suffering from head trauma, had facial and eye injuries, and bruising on her body. She was airlifted to a hospital in Colorado Springs.
Police say they spoke to the Finns at the hospital, who said they were in the process of adopting the toddler through a foster program. During the course of an interview with the couple, police say their story changed several times.
The couple was arrested after a search warrant was executed in their home.
The investigation is still ongoing.”
Foster Parent in Alleged Child Abuse Case Released from Jail[Colorado news 9/19/14]
Update 3:“A couple accused of child abuse in the death of their foster child is expected to avoid a jury.
Sarah and Paul Finn face a felony charge for child abuse resulting in death after police say their 2-year-old foster child, Chassie Pietrolungo, died after she fell down a flight of stairs.
Sarah Finn’s attorney told District Judge Larry Schwartz that she’ll be entering a plea deal later this month.
Her husband, Paul Finn, entered a plea deal last month. If the judge accepts the plea, he could face between eight to 10 years of supervised probation. The maximum penalty Paul Finn could face, if the plea is rejected, is 16 years in prison.
On Aug. 21, 2014, Pietrolungo was taken to the hospital unresponsive. She reportedly sustained her injuries after falling down the stairs. She died six days later.”
Foster parents entering plea deal in child’s death[KRDO 7/9/15 by Michelle San Miguel]
Update 4:“A Pueblo foster mother pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
According to the plea agreement, Sarah Finn faces up to 12 years in prison for the death of 2-year-old Chassie Pietrolongo.
The toddler had been under the care of Finn and her husband Paul Finn when she suffered a series of falls between Aug. 19 and 21, including a fall down a set of stairs in the home.
Prosecutors had argued that the couple acted with negligence in not seeking medical help for the girl sooner.”
Foster mom pleads guilty[The Pueblo Chieftain 7/29/15 by Jeff Tucker]
Update 5: “Paul Finn was sentenced to 10 years of probation for a charge of child abuse resulting in death.
The sentence Paul Finn received is the maximum number of years of probation he could have received under the plea deal.
A judge also ordered Paul Finn cannot supervise a child under the age of 12 during probation. His wife Sarah Finn, who also faces a child abuse charge, gave birth to a child shortly after the foster child’s death.
The judge also asked that Finn be evaluated for consideration to serve six months in community corrections.
Police said the couple’s 2-year-old foster child, Chassie Pietrolungo, died after she fell down a flight of stairs in August 2014.
Paul Finn wasn’t home at the time of the falls, but prosecutors argued that text messages showed Paul Finn knew about Chassie’s injuries and didn’t get her medical help in time.
Chassie Pietrolungo’s biological mother spoke during the sentencing. “Chassie was loved by so many people,” Karen Pietrolungo said.
Paul Finn also addressed the court. “I’m so sorry for what happened,” he said while crying. “I love Chassie so much.”
District Judge Larry Schwartz said it appears that Paul Finn is less culpable than Sarah Finn, who will be sentenced in October.
During a separate hearing, Schwartz denied Sarah Finn’s request to have contact with Paul Finn. Schwartz said he will make a decision on that matter once Sarah Finn is sentenced.”
Pueblo foster parents accused in child abuse death in court [KRDO 8/11/15]
Update 6: “A Pueblo foster mother is headed to prison for child abuse resulting in death.
Sarah Finn was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison and five years parole in the death of her two-year-old foster child, Chassie Pietrolungo.
Finn failed to give Chassie proper medical care after a series of falls over three days in 2014.
Finn also leaves behind a biological child of her own. Her husband, Paul Finn, was sentenced to ten years probation last summer.
Once Sarah gets out of prison, she will not be able to have custody of any child under the age of 12.”
Pueblo woman sentenced in death of foster child [Kvor 1/5/16]
Be careful… You jump to conclusions. The media plays favorites. Innocent until proven guilty??! That’s America right?? One day and these people are convict??? Come on what about the child from LA that died after 64 reports that was never investigated? That baby died… Really look at facts and attack the right source. Have you heard slander?? You don’t know this couple. Let the courts rule
We are just reporting what the news say. We are just discussing the case. There is no innocent until proven guilty here. That is for the courts to decide,not us. We update every case that we have here.
I Don’t know about “the child from LA that died after 64 reports that was never investigated”.Was it an adoption or foster care case? If it was, then show me some links and I will get it added to our archive.
And so there you have it. GUILTY! Underpunished as is always the case, but guilty. Remember this face world. And I do know them.. whine all you like.
How can u say all this about people u do not know? Where is the update? O yea im sure u dont know wats realy going on right? Now that it has been proven to be medically caused? now no one wants to report??? Now that those “horrible” people r innocent!!!!!! Now u cant report the updates? Y? Because that would show u reported false info? Opinions instead of facts? Now that you have ruined a loving couples name… u wont update ur bs story? What abput the court date that happened jan 9th?? Wat happened?? Huh??? Innocence thats wat happened. A family pulled apart because of false reporting and investigators that have side blidners on and only look for thw worst. That r too proud to say they messed up and jumped to conclusions… maybe u should quit reportinf fake and false info and quit destroying peoples names and reputations
Well, Sarah Finn pleaded guilty on July 29,2015. She faces up to 12 years in Prison.Paul Finn entered a plea deal in June 2015.So… there’s the update!
I am Tyler, Chassie was my sister, Paul is being charged with an F3 felony and getting 8-10 years on probation, he signed the plea agreement already, and will be testifying against Sarah, whom the District Attorneys office is aiming to give prison time, no less than 12 years of prison. Paul and Sarah’s child is itself now in the foster care system, housed by Sarah’s mother and Sarah supposedly is only allowed to see her at the department of social services visitation center. Paul’s testimony against Sarah will most likely be against his own wishes, where as it is not a condition of his plea if he refused a subpoena from the DA’s office then it would violate his probation, thus sentencing him to prison time. The accusations against Paul and Sarah Finn are not false accusations. Their negligence tore my baby sister from my life, my mother’s life, my sisters’ and brothers’ lives.
I am very sorry for your loss 🙁
My heart goes out to you and your family. I lost a grandson by the same thing. Stand strong and know she is in a good place now. I’m an old man and years later it still is difficult. Remember her always and she will be here with you in spirit . Draw the strength from her memories and it will help get you through when nothing else can.