Pa. couple charged with death of infant arrested in Bensalem

HONESDALE – A Wayne County couple charged with killing their infant were arrested in Bensalem on Tuesday.

Wayne Tompkins and Emily Mack, both of Canadensis, have been charged with homicide for the death of their three-month-old daughter, identified in court papers as W.T.

Pathologist Dr. Rameen Starling-Roney found the cause of death to be “...multiple traumatic injuries and methamphetamine toxicity and cocaine exposure.”

Starling-Roney also found “...numerous acute and healing fractures at various stages of healing....” along with “...multiple contusions/bruises of the torso and extremities...”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, filed by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Trooper Gregory Allen:

Wayne County Children and Youth (CYS) had an ongoing investigation with Mack, the child's mother, since before the child was born due to drug abuse. “Mack was being treated for drug abuse with Methadone,” the papers read.

Wayne County CYS ceased their services with the family on Aug. 9, 2018.

On Sept. 25, 2019, Mack was interviewed by PSP Cpl. William Wagner and Allen. During this interview, she “... made admission to being prescribed methadone for over a year due to an opiate addition, specifically heroin.”

She added that “...as recently as two month ago she had a relapse,” and stated that “...she used drugs within hours of W.T's death.”

Mack stated, “she was sleeping in her bedroom accompanied by her three-year-old child and W.T.”

The infant woke in the night, causing Mack to remove her from the bedroom so the three-year-old wouldn't be disturbed.

She told police she fed W.T. a bottle of formula, “...cradled W.T. in her arm and they both fell asleep on the couch.”

Mack woke up with W.T. still cradled in her arms, and put her “...in the swing in front of the couch...” before going to use the bathroom.

Upon returning to the living room, Mack retrieved W.T. from the swing, “...sat down on the couch and noticed that W.T.'s neck was cold to touch.”

She sought help from Tompkins, her boyfriend, and after failed attempts to wake the child and asked her stepfather for aid. It was at that time 911 was called.

When interviewed by police, Tompkins gave a conflicting account of the sleeping position of W.T.

He “admitted to using drugs within hours of W.T's death,” and stated he was also prescribed methadone.

Police said they found the home to be in “deplorable condition.”

The affidavit states there was a “loaded” hypodermic needle, “...marijuana pipe with residue and a container of suspected marijuana located in the living space of the residence.”

On March 20, Mack was interviewed a subsequent time with her legal counsel present. At this interview, she told officer that “...she is still using illegal drugs on occasion and during the time of W.T.'s death would do drugs inside the house.”

Mack said “...she is afraid that Wayne is going to hurt her because he has been physically abusive towards her.”

She told police that after the incident, Tompkins told her “...he doesn't remember much from that night because he was high on drugs,” and that “...on the night of the death she remembers waking up and seeing Wayne on the couch holding the baby on his lap as he was slumped over.”

Mack told law enforcement Tompkins “...has lived with her daily since the birth of W.T. and that Wayne would burp W.T. ... very aggressively with striking hard blows to the back.”

Mack also stated the child was only fed with formula from a bottle, and had never been breast fed.

Tompkins and Mack were arrested on criminal homicide charges July 7 in Bensalem. They were arraigned July 9 before Magisterial District Judge Linus Myers at the Wayne County Courthouse.