‘Monsters Do Exist:’ Family Speaks After 18-Month-Old Girl Fatally Poisoned

Iris Rita Alfera was a bubbly toddler who loved watching Ms. Rachel—even learning sign language from the popular YouTuber—before she was fatally poisoned last summer, her family told Newsweek on Monday.

The death of the 18-month-old girl has left an entire Pennsylvania community in mourning, Iris’ great aunt Crystal Joseph told Newsweek in an interview on Monday.

“Please let the world know monsters do exist,” Joseph said. “And watch for the personality changes in parents when they begin to date. Parents, don’t be so eager to leave your children in the care of a person who shows jealousy or hatred toward the other parent.”

Joseph said the family believes Iris’ death was “a malicious act” to hurt the little girl’s mother, 22-year-old Emily Alfera. Now, she said their “entire community is mourning our beautiful Iris.”

The toddler died on June 29, 2023, from organ failure at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hospital, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Iris’ death was the result of “fatal levels of acetone in her blood,” ruling it a homicide, according to a statement by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. Acetone is a solvent commonly found in nail polish remover.

Last week, 20-year-old Aleisia Owens, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, was arrested on charges related to the abuse and death of Iris, the 18-month-old daughter of her boyfriend Bailey Jacoby, Henry said in the statement on January 11.

The attorney general called the case “heartbreaking.”

“It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened,” Henry said. “The investigation shows that, for months, the defendant conducted meticulous research on how certain substances harm children. She then allegedly acted on her findings.”

Owens is charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child and other offenses over the little girl’s death last year, Henry said. She’s being held without bond at the Lawrence County Jail.

Newsweek reached out via email to the New Castle Police Department and the attorney general’s office for comment and update on the case. Court records did not list an attorney who could speak on Owens’ behalf at the time of publication.

The New Castle police were called to the residence of Jacoby and Owens on June 25, 2023, in response to an unresponsive child, and upon arriving at the scene Iris’ was rushed to UPMC Jameson Hospital for treatment before she was airlifted to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh where she died on June 29, Henry said.

An autopsy performed the following determined that the child was exposed to acetone “just before’ her hospitalization, according to the attorney general.

Investigators learned that a few months before Iris’ poisoning death, the child had been hospitalized in early April after ingesting numerous dangerous items, including at least 20 “water beads,” three button-shaped batteries and a metal screw, according to Henry and Joseph. Owens had allegedly spent months, from February to June, conducting online research into household items that could cause serious harm or death to children, the attorney general said.

“In the months leading up to this incident, Owens had conducted web searches on her cellphone related to the actions that ultimately led to the child’s death,” Henry said in the statement, adding that she “repeatedly searched” for information on products that could harm children, including water beads, batteries, and nail polish. Searches included phrases such as, “beauty products that are poisonous to kids” and “medications leading to cause accidental poisoning deaths in children,” he said.

Water beads can be found in toys and crafts and are known to be harmful to children if swallowed, according to the statement.

New Castle police told local media that Jacoby has not been arrested in connection with his Iris’ death because “at this time, there is no evidence at all linking him or anyone else to the baby’s death,” the New Castle News reported.

Iris primarily lived with her mother Emily, but her father had visitation on Wednesday nights as well as every other weekend, which started when the toddler was 13 months old, Joseph told Newsweek. Iris was on a weekend visit with her father when the alleged abuse and fatal poisoning occurred, the girl’s great-aunt said.

Joseph said Iris’ loved ones are now urging for more stringent visitation laws and for cases to be reviewed more thoroughly by the Lawrence County Children and Youth Services (CYS).

“Iris was abused while on a visitation with her father,” Joseph said, adding that after the toddler was hospitalized for ingesting the water beads, batteries and screw, CYS inspected the homes of both parents and found no issue at either residence.

“Her mommy was told if she did not continue the visitation she would be held in contempt of court and may lose custody of her precious baby,” Joseph said. “We believe if there is evidence of abuse the court and child protective service should take these complaints more seriously and investigate further. They walked in with a clipboard and checked off the generic questions and left.”

Joseph said that news of Owens’ arrest didn’t bring any closure to the family because they’ll “forever be paralyzed with grief.”

She said while Iris’ loved ones were “surprised, disgusted and completely heartbroken over how our baby was injured,” they weren’t shocked that authorities have charged Owens with homicide.

“We miss our precious Iris with our entire beings and souls,” Joseph said. She was and will always remain Emily’s entire life. Every moment Emily spent being Iris’ mommy was pure joy and happiness.”

Iris and her mom lived with Emily’s parents “Gaga” Candise and “Papap” Frank Alfera along with her dog and cats, whom the toddler loved cuddling, Joseph said, referring to the 18-month-old girl as a “bundle of love,”

“A very bright and happy baby,” she told Newsweek. “She loved Ms. Rachel and knew so much sign language from watching her even before she could even speak. She also loved to watch Moana and Bluey.”

Joseph said the toddler was adored by her family and that Iris’ numerous aunts and uncle were “in amazement of how smart she was.”

“Pray for our family and spread awareness of abuse,” Joseph told Newsweek, adding that “the laws need to change.”

If you suspect a child of being abused, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline 24 hours a day at 800-843-5678.