Disturbing Details Revealed At Child Starvation Hearing

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Andrea Dusha and Michael Wright headed into court Tuesday on charges that they deliberately starved their 23-month-old baby girl to death.

"This is a terrible tragedy for everybody involved including myself," said defense attorney David Shrager.

First on the stand was Dr. Michael Bradman, who treated 23-month-old Lydia Wright the day she was brought into Uniontown Hospital.

Dr. Michael Bradman testified that the child was lifeless and rigid. He said he believed child had been dead for a few hours.

He said the child's mother Andrea Dusha "was very calm."

Trooper Heather Clem Johnston testified that Andrea Dusha told her Lydia had been sick a couple days prior to her death.

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The trooper also said that when she visited the family's home, she saw where the child slept: strapped in an infant car seat alone in a room filled with clutter and filth.

Asked why the mother didn't call 911 or get Wright, Andrea Dusha allegedly said she "didn't want to waste time."

"Besides what was I gonna do, take her body upstairs," she asked.

David Shrager defended his client.

"My client did everything that she supposed to do that the first sign of distress, she rushed her to the emergency room," Shrager said.

Trooper James Pierce, who interviewed Michael Wright, testified that Wright never got up to check up on the baby the night before she died.

He allegedly said he never changed Lydia's diapers and but that she appeared to be in good health.

Wright allegedly admitted to never checking on his daughter, saying "I guess I'm just lazy, man."

The couple's two other children are with family members. Meanwhile their parents are in the Fayette County Jail, being held on a criminal homicide charges without bond.