A New York mother faces manslaughter charges after her 18-month-old son died from choking on popcorn kernels. Prosecutors say she was intoxicated and left the children unattended at an Airbnb.
Olivia Bithorn, 36, was ordered held on $500,000 bail Monday in Nassau County Court. She is charged with manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment in the April 12 death of her son Luke Russell Jr. in Merrick.
Prosecutors said Bithorn drank heavily at the rental property, left the children alone for over an hour, and gave them uncooked popcorn kernels. The boy ate some, which lodged in his throat. District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated the girl had to alert her mother after the boy turned blue.
Bithorn was arrested June 18 and initially released. A judge also issued a restraining order barring contact with her estranged husband and surviving daughter. She is scheduled to appear in court again on July 23.