How Could You? Hall of Shame-Brenda Broadwater

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 2024 case has come to light.

From North Whitehall, Pennsylvania, foster mother, Brenda Broadwater, 49, “was sentenced up to four years in prison after she asphyxiated a 1-year-old girl that was under her care, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s office announced.”She was “sentenced before Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert L. Steinberg to serve 18 to 48 months in state prison.”

“She pleaded guilty in December to felony aggravated assault; and felony endangering the welfare of children. An agreement for Broadwater called for a state prison term capped at three years, said Pamela Lehman, spokeswoman for the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.

Allentown-based attorney Alfred Stirba IV, representing Broadwater, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning.

Pennsylvania State Police on Jan. 26, 2024 were called to Broadwater’s home for a reported toddler in cardiac arrest. A male caller reported to 911 dispatchers the girl was playing in a stroller and got a strap wrapped around her neck.

When troopers arrived, the child was not breathing. They began CPR before the girl was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township and admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, the office said.

The child later was diagnosed with a mild anoxic brain injury, resulting in expressive aphasia and ataxia, in the setting of strangulation, the DA’s Office said.

Injuries included verbal, speech and coordination deficits, which will require various types of rehabilitation and therapies. It’s unknown if the assault will cause permanent injuries for the child, authorities said.”

“Detectives determined that Broadwater actually pushed a blanket into the girl’s mouth then left her alone and improperly restrained in a stroller.

Ligature marks to the girl’s neck and injuries to her lower lip from the blanket were documented by authorities.

Broadwater at the time was caring for three children at the home, authorities said.”

Foster mom sentenced after asphyxiating 1-year-old girl

[Lehigh Valley Live 02/27.2025 by Pamela Sroka-Holzmann]

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