How Could You? Hall of Shame-Najir W. Diehl 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.

A September 5, 2021 case has come to light.

From East Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania, adoptee Najir W. Diehl was found dead on September 5, 2021.

“Pennsylvania State Police investigators accuse [Mary E.] Diehl of providing Najir with a “poisonous substance” that was discovered in his system through toxicology testing done following the boy’s death. No autopsy was done in the case, according to information presented in court on Wednesday.”

“Najir, who was born in Erie and later adopted by Diehl, had special needs and had an extensive history of health-related problems, authorities said after the boy’s death.

A trooper involved in the investigation testified at Diehl’s preliminary hearing in December [2021] that Diehl stated during a Nov. 8 interview that she had given Najir a half-full cup of windshield wiper fluid to drink   because she wanted to “free him.” When Diehl was asked what she thought would happen to the boy when he drank it, she said he “passes,” Trooper Keven Geibel testified.”

“According to the trooper’s testimony, Diehl initially told a 911 dispatcher and state police that she believed Najir died from suffocating in his bedding when he had a seizure. The trooper said Crawford County’s coroner initially determined that Najir died of asphyxiation due to a seizure disorder, as the boy had a history of seizures. But the results of toxicology testing that were received in early October showed a lethal level of methanol in the boy’s system, according to the testimony.

Geibel testified that Schell then conferred with Erie County forensic pathologist Dr. Eric Vey. After more study was done the manner of Najir’s death was determined to be methanol toxicity, with a single dose occurring on Sept. 5.

The trooper said Diehl told investigators that Najir, who was unable to walk or open a container of methanol, was never out of her sight on Sept. 5. She said the boy did not have access to the room where such chemicals are stored.”

“Diehl was charged in Najir’s death on Nov. 8 and was arraigned on the homicide charge the next day. She remains in the Crawford County Correctional Facility without bond.

DiGiacomo and Hackwelder said in court Wednesday that testimony presented at trial is expected to take about a week. DiGiacomo said those expected to testify for the prosecution include lay witnesses, troopers and experts. Vey is among the experts expected to testify at trial.

Hackwelder said the defense will have witnesses, but he did not know the number. He said the defense also has an expert who is expected to address the toxicology report.

DiGiacomo said prosecutors have provided the defense with forensic reports and a report authored by Vey. Hackwelder said his expert has not authored a report, but one would be written and provided to prosecutors.”

Trial date uncertain in homicide case of Crawford woman accused of poisoning 11-year-old
[Go Erie 9/2/22 by Tim Hahn]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“A Crawford County woman accused of causing her 11-year-old adopted son’s death in 2021 by giving him windshield washer fluid to drink is now facing a March trial date.

The trial of 63-year-old Mary E. Diehl was moved to the March trial term in Crawford County last week after Diehl’s lawyer, Eric Hackwelder, asked for a continuance. Hackwelder said he is continuing to consult with his expert in the case.

Diehl, who remains in prison without bond, faces one count of criminal homicide in the Sept. 5, 2021, death of Najir W. Diehl.

Najir, whom authorities said had special needs and had an extensive history of health-related problems, was found dead in bed at the family’s home at 7621 Mallard Road in East Fairfield Township by Pennsylvania State Police troopers who were called there on the morning of Sept. 6, 2021.

Investigators said the boy’s death was preliminarily believed to have been natural, but they were awaiting the results of toxicology testing. The testing revealed the presence of a poisonous substance in Najir’s blood, and additional testing found evidence indicating the substance was ingested while Najir was alive, state police reported.

A state police trooper who testified at Diehl’s preliminary hearing in December 2021 said Diehl initially reported that she believed Najir died from suffocating in his bedding due to a seizure. The Crawford County Coroner’s Office initially determined that Najir died of asphyxiation due to a seizure disorder, and no autopsy was done. But the toxicology testing found a lethal amount of methanol in the boy’s system, the trooper testified.

Crawford County Coroner Scott Schell then conferred with Erie County forensic pathologist Eric Vey, M.D., and following more study the manner of Najir’s death was determined to be methanol toxicity, with a single dose occurring on the evening of Sept. 5, 2021, according to the trooper’s testimony.

Diehl told troopers during a November 2021 interview that Najir was never out of her sight on Sept. 5 and was unable to walk or open a container that might contain methanol. She also said that such substances were kept in a tool room at their home, and Najir did not have access to it, according to testimony.

Later on the day of the interview, according to the trooper, Diehl stated to another trooper that on Sept. 5, after the family had eaten dinner, she sat Najir in the living room, went to the tool room and filled a plastic cup halfway with windshield washer fluid and gave it to Najir to drink.

The trooper said Diehl said she gave Najir the fluid to drink because she wanted to “free him.”

Authorities said Najir, who was born in Erie in June 2010, lived with Diehl and another child, who was 10 years old at the time of the incident in 2021.”

Trial moved to March for Crawford woman charged in poisoning of 11-year-old adopted son
[Go Erie 12/28/22 by Tim Hahn]

Update 2:“A Crawford County woman accused of fatally poisoning her adopted special needs son in September 2021 pleaded no-contest to third-degree murder in the case days before she was scheduled for trial.

Mary E. Diehl, 64, entered the no-contest plea before Crawford County Judge Mark Stevens on Friday morning, according to her lawyer, Eric Hackwelder. Diehl is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon.

Hackwelder said Diehl faces a range of sentencing of no less than six to 12 years in prison to no more than 10 to 20 years on the plea.

Diehl’s plea came as jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday for her trial in Crawford County. Hackwelder and prosecutors said during a pre-trial hearing in September that they expected the trial to take about a week.

Pennsylvania State Police investigators accused Diehl of providing a “poisonous substance” to 11-year-old Najir W. Diehl at their home on Mallard Road in East Fairfield Township, Crawford County, causing the boy’s death on Sept. 5, 2021.”

Crawford woman pleads no-contest to 3rd-degree murder in adopted son’s poisoning in 2021
[Go Erie 3/10/23 by Tim Hahn]