Pa. father charged after dresser deaths of toddlers

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (AP) — Authorities have charged a western Pennsylvania man in connection with the deaths of his toddler daughters, who were killed when a dresser tipped over onto them.

David Beatty, 28, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, and he and his 28-year-old wife, Jennifer, also face child-endangerment charges because authorities say their Aliquippa home was in deplorable condition.

The dresser fell on the girls July 4. Brooklyn Beatty, 2, died that day, while her 3-year-old sister, Ryeley, died two days later in a Pittsburgh hospital.

David Beatty is charged with manslaughter because Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh says he heard the furniture crash, but didn’t check on the girls for 10 minutes or more. Berosh believes the girls might have lived had their father responded sooner.