Drugged-up mom gets 8 years in prison for giving infant deadly dose of methadone

VENTNOR — A woman who authorities say gave her 7-month-old daughter a lethal dose of methadone has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter charges.

Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said Lisa M. Scalia, 33, was arrested after authorities were called to her Ventnor home on the morning of Jan. 3, 2016 for an unresponsive infant. At the time it was believed that Scalia was under the influence when she rolled over the baby, causing the child's injuries, according to statements law enforcement made at the time.

The child was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center-City Division before dying at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia five days later.

Scalia was initially charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, after she was found to have suboxone, oxycodone, heroin, and Lyrica.

But investigators later determined Scalia had "recklessly" caused the death of the child by giving her methadone, ultimately causing the child's death, Ruberton said. Scalia was then charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter.

Scalia, who was already being held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility on the initial set of charges, received the new charges while still in custody.

On Dec. 8 of last year, Scalia pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree aggravated manslaughter. Under the terms of the No Early Release Act she must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, which is 6 years 9 months, before being eligible for parole.

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Contact reporter Adam Hochron at 609-359-5326 or Adam.Hochron@townsquaremedia.com