Man accused of shaking daughter to death to stand trial

VANDERGRIFT, Pa. — The Westmoreland County man accused of shaking his infant daughter to death in November will head to trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.

According to the police report, Matthew Milisits, 30, admitted that he became agitated with the child and shook her while he had custody of the baby.

When the child was returned to her mother, Samantha Ludwiczak, she was unresponsive and had to be flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, police said.

“They tried resuscitating her in the ambulance and then they life-flighted her to the hospital and she went into cardiac arrest in the E.R.,” Ludwiczak said.

On Nov. 27, Milisits was charged with criminal homicide and multiple assault charges.

Ludwiczak showed up at Tuesday’s hearing clutching Sophia’s blanket alongside Sophia’s aunt.

“We just want justice for Sophia,” the aunt said. “We’d like to thank the community and everybody who has lent their support through this tough time.”

Milisits’ attorney, Duke George, said his client remains in the Westmoreland County Jail awaiting the trial.

“Based on the cross-examination, and based on what the doctor testified, there are some unanswered questions with reference to when this happened and who may have done it,” George said.

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