Lake Ariel babysitter pleads guilty to third-degree murder in death of infant

Michael Alexander Crowl, a 26-year-old Lake Ariel resident, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder after an infant was shaken, leading to the infant's death. The plea was made Thursday in the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, where he is due back for sentencing Oct. 10.

The announcement by Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell recounted that the incident leading to the baby's death occurred Nov. 10, 2023. That day at about 10:42 a.m., a Wayne Memorial Hospital emergency room nurse contacted Pennsylvania State Police in Honesdale about the infant's condition. An ambulance had brought in the 3-month-old baby from an address on Tannery Road, Lake Ariel.

The infant was life-flighted to Geisinger's pediatric intensive care unit where the baby was declared "brain dead," police said. The victim was declared deceased on Nov. 13.

Previously: State police: Wayne County man charged in shaken baby death

As related by the grandmother, police said, the baby's mother had moved out of state a month prior, and the father had not been seen for several days. Pennsylvania State Police related that Crowl told them in an interview that he was working for the baby's family members for room and board and was babysitting the infant.

Crowl remains in the Wayne County Correctional Facility.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lake Ariel babysitter pleads guilty to third-degree murder in death of infant