2 Pittsburgh-area adults charged in death of 15-month-old found in deplorable conditions

A Westmoreland couple is behind bars, charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of their 15-month-old child.

Pennsylvania State Police were called to a home along Crestview Drive in Mount Pleasant Township on Feb. 12 for a report of an unresponsive child.

Troopers say 15-month-old Thomas Blasser was not breathing when they arrived. Despite life-saving efforts, including CPR, he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators quickly turned their attention to the child's parents, Michael Blasser and Ashley Makarsky, who were living in the home with Thomas and another young child under what police describe as deplorable conditions.

"There was no food in the house that we saw that was edible," said Trooper Steve Limani. "The temperatures were below freezing within the home. The only heat source in the home was a kerosene heater that emitted fumes, along with fecal matter and garbage. There was no running water within the home. Unsightly. Disturbing to think that there were children and adults trying to live there."

According to investigators, blood tests conducted that day showed both parents were positive for methamphetamine. Police say the couple's older child also tested positive for drugs.

That child was immediately taken into emergency custody by Children and Youth Services.

An autopsy later determined Thomas died after ingesting methamphetamine through his mother's breast milk.

Now, following a months-long investigation, both Blasser and Makarsky are facing charges, including involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree murder.

"This is, this is just horrific," Trooper Limani said. "Could you imagine being an infant and literally your only form of surviving is to have breast milk, but the breast milk has meth in it. These two individuals made decisions that were reckless, neglectful, and obviously, directly harmful to a child that relied on them for its only form of being able to survive."

Blasser and Makarsky are both incarcerated in the Westmoreland County prison. They are due back in court next Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.