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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A woman is facing up to 18 months in jail after she pleaded guilty Thursday to an involuntary manslaughter charge for discarding a newborn baby after she gave birth inside a Union Township residence last year.</p><p>Andrea Sue Litter, 39, of Parkview Circle, Sherman Hills, Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge at what was scheduled to be a status conference on her case before Luzerne County Judge Tina Polachek Gartley.</p><p>State police say Litter gave birth to a child while on a toilet of a home on Route 239 on Nov. 2, 2018, then wrapped the newborn in plastic bags she placed next to a burn pile.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Nancy Violi who, along with Assistant District Attorney Brittany Quinn prosecuted, said the newborn was a girl and the gestational age was approximately 28 weeks.</p><p>An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross determined the girl died from combined effects of prematurity, asphyxia, hypothermia and hemorrhage.</p><p>The manner of death was ruled a homicide.</p><p>Litter was charged with involuntary manslaughter on Sept. 19.</p><p>When Violi and Quinn, and Litter&#8217;s attorneys, Jonathan Blum and Steven Greenwald, approached Gartley, they informed the judge they entered a plea agreement.</p><p>Gartley quizzed Litter at length about her understanding of the plea agreement and accepted the deal, which calls for Litter to serve nine to 18 months in the county correctional facility.</p><p>Court records say Litter has a learning disability, which was discussed during Thursday&#8217;s proceeding. Litter said she is prescribed medication for her mental health.</p><p>Litter told investigators she had no idea she was pregnant until she heard something fall into a toilet at the Union Township home. When she looked in the toilet, she saw the baby that she removed and wrapped in plastic bags and placed it outside next to a burn pile, court records say.</p><p>Litter said the baby was breathing and crying.</p><p>Court records say Litter did not tell anyone until she was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for what was believed to be a diabetic emergency on Nov. 3, 2018.</p><p>While at the hospital, she told emergency room staff she gave birth the following day resulting in the hospital contacting authorities.</p><p>Litter remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail. She is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 22.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_Andrea-Sue-Litter-3-12122019.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Litter </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_Andrea-Sue-Litter-3-12122019.jpg</photo0><caption0>Litter </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Woman pleads guilty to newborn death