Foster mom pleads not guilty in child's death from anti-pain patch

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Manhattan health care aide has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing her of killing her 6-year-old foster daughter by giving her a powerful, medicated anti-pain patch.

Joanne Alvarez is charged with criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of child. She was arraigned Wednesday in Manhattan's state Supreme Court and is free on $15,000 bail.

The child, Taylor Webster, complained of a sore neck on the night of May 17. Prosecutors say the 54-year-old Alvarez applied a medicated patch meant for an adult. Taylor was discovered unconscious the next afternoon in Alvarez's East Harlem home, and was declared dead about two hours later at the hospital.

Alvarez could face up to four years in prison if convicted.