Mother Charged in Girl’s Death by Pacemaker Failure
A woman accused of failing to arrange the routine replacement of her 13-year-old daughter’s heart pacemaker is facing a manslaughter charge.
The device failed in February, resulting in Lacey Michelle Rossini’s death, police said.
Lorie Marie Simonis remained in Lane County Jail on Saturday in lieu of $100,000 bail. The manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Rossini had been outfitted with a pacemaker since a congenital heart defect was discovered when she was an infant. The pacemaker or its battery required replacement every two years, as well as periodic checkups.
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