An evil Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing her three-year-old stepson by stuffing wet wipes down his throat.
Chelsea Cooley, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering Travis Young Jr. while watching him at her boyfriend’s house in 2022.
The young man died in agony after Cooley stuffed eight wet wipes down his throat to such an extent that doctors needed forceps to remove the bloody rags.
Cooley pleaded guilty to the horrific crime as part of a plea deal Monday.
At sentencing, the cowardly killer pleaded unsuccessfully to be excused from the courtroom as heartbreaking victim impact statements were read.
Pennsylvania stepmother has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing her three-year-old stepson, Travis Young Jr, by stuffing wet wipes down his throat.
Chelsea Cooley, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering Travis Young Jr. while watching him at her boyfriend’s house in 2022.
Travis died in agony after Cooley stuffed eight wet wipes down his throat to such an extent that doctors needed forceps to remove the bloody rags.
‘How could you betray my boy’s trust?’ Travis’ father, Travis Young Sr, wrote in his statement, the Bedford Gazette reports. ‘How could you have destroyed my life?’
‘The worst thing is to gradually forget the sound of his voice. I hope she haunts you every second of your life.
“I lost my firstborn, my little best friend,” Travis’ mother, Rachel Reuter, told the court. “I lost the honor of being able to watch him grow.”
He said he has forgiven his son’s killer, but “will never be able to forget what happened.”
“I hope that one day you can find the peace that I’m sure you need,” Reuters said.
Despite asking to leave, Judge Travis Livengood said Cooley “showed no remorse” as he listened to her words.
The judge called the case, ‘“One of the most heinous acts I have ever sentenced anyone for.”
“You’ve earned every day of the 40 to 80 years that are going to happen to you,” he told Cooley.
Travis Young Jr. with his mother Rachel Reuter, who told the court that Cooley had robbed her of “the honor of being able to watch him grow up.”
Travis is survived by his parents, younger brother, and extended family. Pictured: Devastated mother Rachel Reuter with Travis (left) and her brother
Travis’ nightmare began on May 28, 2022 as Cooley watched him while his father was at work.
Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry described how Cooley took a photo of the unconscious child at 8:41 p.m., but did not call 911 until 9:07 p.m.
She reported that Travis had choked on something, but was hesitant to follow the dispatcher’s instructions, Lowry said.
She eventually removed two wet wipes from the boy’s mouth, but he insisted on putting on gloves to touch him, Lowry added.
EMS workers removed four more wipes as he was rushed to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with doctors at the facility using ten-inch forceps to remove the remaining wipes.
They noticed the wipes were “tight” and “soiled with blood.” Tragically, Travis succumbed to his injuries and died the next day.
Meanwhile, Cooley never asked about his well-being and continued to reiterate that he had behaved badly, Lowry said.
At sentencing, Cooley unsuccessfully pleaded to be excused from the courtroom as heartbreaking victim impact statements from Travis’ family were read.
Travis’ death was ruled a homicide after it was determined there was no way he could have gotten the wipes into himself.
The victim had “extensive bruising” and “signs of petechiae,” spots due to bleeding, on his chest and neck, Law and Crime reports.
Doctors also found evidence of feces on his hands, while Cooley apparently had bite marks.
When asked why it took him so long to call for help, Cooley said his phone was “malfunctioning” and told police the boy needed to be placed in a “group home,” the outlet reports.
Travis is survived by his parents, younger brother, and extended family.
‘Travis loved his chocolate and enjoyed playing outside with his cars, cuddling while watching TV; Especially his favorite cartoon, PJ Masks,’ his obituary says.
“He loved being with his family and spending time with his cousin Aiden.”
TO GoFundMe for the family states that the hearts of Travis’ loved ones are “completely broken.”