Witness: Braddock Toddler Found Dead In Snow Sexually Assaulted

A 23-month-old Braddock girl, whose body was found outside in the cold three years ago, froze to death and had been sexually assaulted, witnesses testified Tuesday.

Jurors in the trial of William Page, 26, were shown Nyia Page’s autopsy photos which, prosecutors said, showed the girl had been sexually assaulted.

Page is on trial in Allegheny County court for the February 2007 death of his daughter.

Page, who is expected to testify in his own defense, has said the injuries were caused by him kicking his daughter, police said.

Police said Page told officers, “I was so mad. She was tearing up them pampers, man. I kicked her, you know, in her private parts and it started bleeding. I tried to clean it up, put pressure on it to stop the bleeding, but the bleeding wouldn't stop.”

Child sex assault expert Dr. Mary Carrasco testified Tuesday that if the girl had been kicked, there would have been bruising and contusions on Nyia.

Nyia’s body was found in a wooded area about four blocks from her home. Witnesses testified that Nyia died of exposure and that her body was completely frozen.

Earlier Tuesday, prosecutors said that Nyia’s blood was found on a Terrible Towel, a child’s T-shirt, women’s underwear and a bed sheet on a bed in which Page admitted to sleeping.

Witnesses also testified that blood was found in the girl’s groin area and the blood was hers.

Police said Page also officers he stayed with Nyia for several minutes after he left her in the wooded area.

On Monday, jurors heard Page’s alleged taped confession. In it, Page told police he kicked Nyia and wept as he left her outside in the cold three years ago.

According to police, Page described what he did as he took Nyia outside.

“I got scared. I wrapped her up in a blanket wrapped her up real tight,” Page is heard telling officers.

"I went towards the tracks across from my house. I stood there for a second. I was crying she was crying. … I started walking down the tracks thinking. ‘Where am I going to put her at? Where am I going to put her at?’"

Page told police he finally found a familiar place.

“I wrapped the blanket, wrapped it again real tight enough so you knew if she did get up she had to work her way out of that blanket," Page told police. “She was crying, man, she was crying. I started crying. I just took off, went back down the tracks, went home, took off my coat, went upstairs, got in the bed."

“I left her in the weeds. I was there about 10 minutes,” he said. “I was just crying, man, listening to her cry … telling her how sorry, ‘cause I am sorry. I am sorry.”

Under cross-examination, the forensic pathologist said he found no evidence of physical trauma on Nyia.

William Page - nyia page dad William Page William Page

Police said the child was wearing only a sweater and that tiny footprints in the snow suggest the girl walked around before she died. Police said they also found a diaper and a blue blanket in the vicinity.

Page could face the death penalty if convicted.

Previous Stories: March 12, 2010: Photos Of Dead Toddler’s Tiny Footprints Bring Jurors To Tears March 10, 2010: Jurors Hear Mother's Frantic 911 Call In Braddock Toddler Death Trial February 12, 2010: Judge Ruling On Death Penalty In Death Of Braddock Girl May 5, 2008: Trial Delayed For Dad Accused In 2-Year-Old's Death February 9, 2007: Family, Friends Gather To Remember Braddock Toddler February 8, 2007: Father Charged With Braddock Toddler's Death February 6, 2007: Braddock Girl's Death Ruled Homicide February 4, 2007: Missing Braddock Toddler's Body Found

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