Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced Feb. 26 a North Whitehall Township woman convicted of asphyxiating and strangling a 1-year-old girl under her care as a foster mother received a state prison sentence.

According to a Holihan in a new release, Brenda Broadwater, 49, pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2024, to charges of aggravated assault — victim less than 13, a felony of the first degree; and endangering the welfare of children — parent/guardian commits offense, a felony of the second degree.

The agreement for Broadwater called for a minimum sentence capped at 36 months in state prison.

At a hearing before Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert L. Steinberg, on Feb. 26, Broadwater was sentenced to serve 18 months to 48 months in prison.

According to Holihan, on Jan. 26, 2024, Pennsylvania State Police received a call from the Lehigh County Communications Center about a 1-year-old girl, identified as J.K., who was in cardiac arrest at Broadwater’s home, in the 4100 block of Coplay Creek Road, North Whitehall Township.

The 911 call revealed that at approximately 7:41 p.m., a male caller said J.K. was playing in a stroller and got a strap wrapped around her neck.

Broadwater was the foster mother of J.K., as well as two other children at the home.

J.K. was diagnosed with a mild anoxic brain injury resulting in expressive aphasia and ataxia, due to the strangulation.

Her injuries included verbal, speech and coordination deficits that will require various types of rehabilitation and therapies.

Holihan said it is yet unknown if the assault caused permanent injuries for the child.

The investigation determined Broadwater pushed a blanket into the toddler’s mouth then left her alone and improperly restrained in a stroller.

Ligature marks to J.K.’s neck and injuries to her lower lip from the blanket were documented.

The case was investigated by Trooper Taylor Dietrich and was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer and Kristi Green.