TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about stillbirth and infant loss, which may be triggering to some.
A Pennsylvania mom is facing multiple charges after the death of her infant daughter. Katrina Pantuso was allegedly co-sleeping with her 2-month-old, which led to the baby’s death. The coroner was unable to determine the exact details of her manner of death. But evidence showed that Pantuso had a history of co-sleeping. What’s worse is that this time, she was under the influence of drugs. Parents have been warned time and time again about the dangers of co-sleeping because things can go wrong, and it’s unpredictable. We’ve seen multiple instances where it has turned deadly, and it could have been avoided.
The baby was discovered unresponsive.
Police responded to a report of an infant not being able to breathe around 1:45 p.m. on November 4, 2025, NBC Philadelphia reported. Despite the best efforts of first responders to give the baby life-saving treatment, she was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
The baby’s manner of death could not be determined, but the Lehigh County Coroner said she died of probable asphyxia.
Pantuso told police she had been co-sleeping with her daughter, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release reported on by WFMZ. Police found a bassinet next to the bed, as well as a leafy substance they suspected was marijuana on a nearby desk.
Pantuso’s blood was tested on the day of her daughter’s death, according to authorities. She tested positive for methamphetamine, cannabinoids, and methadone.
The baby’s autopsy noted a “combination of bed sharing in an adult bed with pillows and blankets with an adult under the influence of a sedating medication such as methadone and a lividity pattern consistent with face-down positioning suggests that the death may have occurred due to asphyxia and/or overlay,” the DA’s office said.
She had been warned multiple times about her behavior.
Injuries to the baby girl’s head and scalp were found. While they may have happened during the overlay, “inflicted head trauma cannot be excluded.”
A forensic analysis of her phone’s messages showed Pantuso used drugs the day of her daughter’s death, Lehigh Valley Live reported. The messages also showed that there were previous occasions where the mother had fed the baby and fallen asleep. She even dropped the baby on the floor.
The mother was warned multiple times against co-sleeping, and was educated about the dangers, the DA’s office said. The bassinet that was found next to the bed was given to her specifically to keep her from co-sleeping.
Pantuso is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment. She is being held at the Lehigh County Jail after failing to post $100,000 bail.
Pantuso’s baby girl was beloved by those who knew her.
An online obituary for the baby girl identified her as Layla Raine Pantuso Olesh. She was described as a “cherubic presence whose brief time on earth left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her.”
“Layla’s radiant smile and loving nature were her most remarkable features. Although her time with us was short, she was a light in the lives of her family, who felt blessed by her presence. Layla’s innocence and purity were a reminder of the preciousness of life, and her spirit will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her,” the obituary reads.
