HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that the parents of a newborn baby who died in Sullivan County in 2022 have pleaded guilty. The baby boy died two days after birth, and the parents, along with a third person, were charged based on failures to take reasonable action to summon medical assistance.
Drew Hoenigke, the baby’s father, pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another person and concealing the death of a child. Amy Hoenigke, the child’s mother, pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault. A Sullivan County Judge will impose sentences at a later date.
The parents and a third person, Brigitte Meckes, were charged after the newborn died on January 17, 2022. Investigators determined that the child was in respiratory distress and subsequently suffered cardiac arrest. Evidence indicated that the parents and Meckes were aware of the severity of the baby’s medical situation and had both the means and ability to call for help but did not do so.
Text message evidence showed all three individuals were aware that the baby was dying. No one called 9-1-1 for help.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jaime Keating. The case against Meckes is pending; she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.