Police: 2-month-old child shaken by father dies at Children's Hospital

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A baby who police said was shaken by her father died at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

According to the police report, Matthew Milisits, 30, admitted that he became agitated with the child and shook her while he had custody of baby last week.

When the child was returned to her mother, Samantha Ludwiczak, in Armstrong County, she was unresponsive and had to be flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, police said.

“They tried resuscitating her in the ambulance and then they life-flighted her to the hospital and she went into cardiac arrest in the E.R.,” Ludwiczak said.

Lukwicsak told Channel 11’s Cara Sapida that Milisits went from denying he was the child’s biological father, to begging for time alone with the baby.

“When he brought her home he took the blanket off the car seat and she gasped for air, so I ran and called 911,” Lukwicsak said.

According to the criminal complaint, Milisits told investigators he wasn’t sure if he was the child’s biological father. Milisits was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of children.

“He said he got aggravated because she was crying. She’s not a big crier at all, even when she was born she only cried one time,” Ludkiczak said.

Milisits was expected to appear in court on Tuesday, but the hearing was continued. Officials said they will withdraw the original complaint and refile charges of homicide against Milisits sometime within the next week.

“She was precious. She was just a little angel who didn’t deserve to have this happen to her,” family friend Christine Stasenko said.

Stasenko along with other family members and friends are planning a benefit spaghetti dinner for Sophia Ludzwiczak that will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Oklahoma Firehall at 171 Thorn St.

“Unfortunately baby Sophia has passed, but of course we are still going to need to support all we can get from everybody,” Stasenko said.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $8. The cost of a ticket includes spaghetti, salad, a dinner roll and a drink. The meal is also available in takeout.

There will also be a bake sale and tickets will be sold for a Chinese auction.

WPXI