Fayette County mother will go to trial on criminal homicide charges

A judge announced Thursday that a Fayette County mother facing criminal homicide charges will go to trial.

Heather Forsythe was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child in her 4-year-old son’s death, but new charges were filed citing the mother’s level of recklessness, police said.

Forsythe’s boyfriend, Patrick Haney, is accused of beating the boy to death in September. Officials at the West Virginia Hospital said Trenton St. Clair died before he made it to the hospital.

Sharon Smitley, Trenton’s grandmother, said she is glad Forsythe is being charged with homicide.

“I just can’t wait until it’s over and Trenton gets the justice he deserves,” Smitley said. “She doesn’t deserve freedom because she didn’t give him anything.”

Authorities said Haney could face the death penalty if he is convicted.

Forsythe’s trial date has not been released yet.