Lackawanna mother pleads guilty to killing newborn

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A Lackawanna woman pleaded guilty Friday to suffocating her newborn daughter hours after she gave birth unassisted in her apartment April 18.

Under a pre-indictment deal, Danielle Payne, 25, pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns to second-degree, or reckless, manslaughter.

At the urging of prosecutors and Payne's attorneys, the judge agreed to impose a five- to 15-year prison term when she is sentenced April 30. Payne declined to comment as she left court with her parents and lawyers.

The judge allowed her to remain free on previously posted $75,000 bond. She continues to wear an electronic monitoring device, and must also abide by a daily curfew, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Before the plea deal, Payne was looking at a possible indictment for second-degree murder in the death of the child, known as "Baby Girl Payne."

Lackawanna police found the remains in a plastic bag in a car trunk nine days after the newborn was suffocated. Payne admitted suffocating the baby with a sweatshirt in the bathroom of her flat.

Payne, accompanied in court by her parents, told the judge she wrapped the baby in the sweatshirt and covered the baby's mouth, shortly after giving birth.

After her arrest, Payne lost her job as manager of a Chuck E. Cheese party and games facility.

Police said Payne was taken to Mercy Hospital about 4 p.m. the day of the killing because of severe bleeding. A doctor at the hospital recognized the bleeding was from childbirth and summoned authorities, police added.

When questioned, Payne for days denied giving birth but eventually led police to the car and the body in a driveway next to her home.

mgryta@buffnews.com

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