Baby-Sitter Pleads Not Guilty in Child’s Death

A baby-sitter has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of a child and injury of his twin brother from a mixture of cold medicines she allegedly gave them.

Melvine Kaiserauer, 42, of North Hollywood also pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Van Nuys to two counts each of child neglect and administering a controlled substance to a minor. Christopher and Brandon Collins became ill Feb. 20 after Kaiserauer gave them a mixture of adult prescriptions and children’s Tylenol because they showed cold symptoms, authorities said. Christopher later died of codeine and morphine poisoning, Loveman said. Brandon recovered. Kaiserauer was watching the infants while their father, Roger Collins, did odd jobs at her apartment.