Thursday, 4:30 PM
Gardner mother faces charges in death of 2-year-old daughter
By Connie Paige, Globe Correspondent
A Gardner mother pleaded not guilty today to assault and other charges in connection with the death of her 2-year-old daughter.
Raelynn Mascal died Friday in the emergency room at Henry Heywood Hospital just weeks shy of her third birthday. Michele Lepkowski, 32, who is charged with assault and battery and reckless endangerment of a child, was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Joe Early Jr., the Worcester County district attorney, said additional charges may be filed against Lepkowski. She called 911 at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and said Raelynn was unresponsive. A friend of Lepkowski may also be charged later today with reckless endangerment of a child, Early said.
Outside the courtroom, her attorney, Michael Hussey, said that Lepkowski did not understand how Raelynn was hurt.
"She's extremely sad and distraught," said Hussey, adding that she was hospitalized after Raelynn’s death. "She doesn't know how the child suffered such severe injuries."
