Fayette County woman could face the death penalty in toddler’s death
A Springhill Township woman who allegedly killed her boyfriend’s 2-year-old son could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.
Brianna Bloyer, 30, is accused of abusing Bentlee Myers over the course of several weeks while his father, Brett Bissett, 25, was at work.
In a notice filed this week, Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele cited two aggravating circumstances that enabled him to seek a death sentence: Myers’ age and allegations that Bloyer tortured the child.
Bissett is also charged with criminal homicide, though prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty in his case.
“The evidence we have suggests that Mr. Bisset wasn’t home when the abuse occurred, and … what we would consider a significant event occurred on the day the ambulance was called for the child,” Aubele said in a phone interview on Thursday.
A Head Start teacher who had come to the couple’s home to work with a different child on Aug. 16 called 911 after Bloyer answered the door, panicked about Myers’ condition. When emergency responders arrived, they found the boy in bed with his feet propped up. His face was blue, and he did not appear to be breathing, according to testimony at Bloyer’s preliminary hearing.
Myers was transported to Ruby Ridge hospital where he was declared brain dead. He died on Aug. 19, and hospital personnel said he died from cardiac arrest by head trauma.
Bloyer reportedly told state police that she threw Myers “from the kitchen to the living room” and that she heard a loud thud when his head struck the floor.
Police contended Bloyer conducted several Google searches leading up to Myers’ death, including “what better to make bruises fade overnight” and “how to make someone come to.”
Bloyer is represented by the public defender’s office who did not return a call for comment.
She is the third person against whom the district attorney’s office recently filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Emmanuel Dennis, 33, and Celia Nunn, 30, of Menallen Township could face capital punishment for their role in the murder of a 2-year-old child due to abuse and neglect.