Judge OKs homicide charge in 1976 drowining case

UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors have enough evidence to pursue a homicide charge against a woman accused of drowning her young child in a creek 30 years ago, a judge ruled.

Glenda R. Masciarelli, 52, of Nicholson Township, was ordered in November to stand trial in the September 1976 death of her 2-year-old son, Alfred P. Masciarelli Jr. She was arrested after investigators re-interviewed her as part of a routine review of the unsolved case.

Her attorney, Nicholas Timperio, challenged the prosecution’s evidence and argued that Masciarelli was being unlawfully imprisoned because of vague statements she gave to investigators last year.