Mount Vernon mom in court in 15-month-old's death

MOUNT VERNON  - The mother of a 15-month-old girl has been arrested and is expected to be charged with her child’s death, officials said Saturday.

Dasia Bartee, aged 26, was arrested after officials responded to a 911 call early Friday. Police arrived at  210 Washington St. and found 15-month-old Samia Yusef unresponsive, according to a release issued by the mayor’s office.

Bartee is expected to be charged with first-degree manslaughter at a scheduled arraignment hearing Monday.

“It was a gruesome discovery that shocked even our most senior officers on the job,” Police Commissioner Ronald Fatigate said.

Two other children found at the home have been removed and placed into child protection services.

RELATED: Mount Vernon police investigating toddler's death

Officials said the initial investigation suggested the child had been deceased for several hours before police arrived at the scene.

No official cause of death has been determined though police said the child showed evidence of trauma to the face, and internal bleeding.

According to the release, “the temperature of the body was extremely cold which indicates an unusual situation,” leading the Mount Vernon Police Department to investigate the the possibility “that the child’s body may have been placed in a freezer at some point in time.”

“While an arrest has been made, I hope the sword of justice is swift and cuts deep as this toddler’s death was completely unnecessary,” Mayor Richard Thomas said. “Samia's tragic loss hurts the entire Mount Vernon family. As a parent, I know I hugged my own children even closer when I got home. If you know someone who is struggling as a parent, please reach out and support them.”

Both Thomas and Fatigate said counseling services are available to police officers and residents who may require it.

“We are providing counseling services to all officers impacted on this case and are working even harder to strengthen our relationship with the community to help families in need,” Fatigate said. “I commend our officers for their hard work in making an arrest in this case.”

Thomas urged parents to contact 211 if they find the need for information, support or counseling services.

“Tragic deaths such as Samia’s do not have to happen,” he said.

Bartee is expected to be arraigned Monday. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Mount Vernon Police Department at 914-665-2500