Mother Sentenced To Lesser Charged In Daughters Death
By: Danielle Krout
Updated: July 12, 2012
Svenungsen accepted a plea agreement in April offered by prosecutors. She was sentenced to serve 74 days but was given credit for time served.
Svenungsen and her boyfriend Cody Schartiger were arrested in October 2011 charged in the 21 year olds daughters' death. The county coroner said the 18-month old baby girl died after being beaten and suffocated.
"This is a complete tragedy and she hopes to move forward with the rest of her life," said Defense Attorney John Kopas.
The 21-year old mother who now lives in Fayette County agreed to testify against Schartiger as part of her plea deal. The judge also removed house arrest.
Schartiger is expected to go to trial in August.
"If he chooses to go to trial, she will testify for the commonwealth," said Somerset County District Attorney Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser. "There was not a pattern of a previous abuse and the mother was sleeping when it allegedly happened."

