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Murder charge brought against Elmira woman accused of killing Batavia baby

By Howard B. Owens

An Elmira woman accused of killing a toddler from Batavia has been indicted by a Chemung County grand jury on a charge of murder, 2nd.

Melissa S. Englehardt, 24, is also charged with manslaughter, 1st.

Twenty-one-month old Andrew John Cianfrini died while allegedly in Englehardt's care. He was found dead Nov. 10, 2009.

Englehardt is his stepmother, and she allegedly slipped methanol into his drink cup, causing his death.

The grand jury indictment says Englehard showed "a grave indifference to human life" as part of the murder, 2nd count.

She remains in a Chemung County jail and her bail has been increased from $20,000 to $100,000.

Andrew lived with his mother, Kristen Cianfrini, in Batavia.

The child's father is George Englehardt.

Howard B. Owens

John,nobody touched your first comment prior to posting your second comment.

But now that I've read your first comment, yes it's gone. check your e-mail.

We do not edit comments. We either let them stand or delete them if we find they violate site standards.

Apr 26, 2010, 10:26pm Permalink
John Roberts

Wow, Because I have a private opinion I was breaking the rules of posting, This proves what they were saying on the Topix pages about if the Owner "Howard the jerk" doesn't like or agree with what your opinion, then he and he alone deletes what you replied.. Tell yeah what Howard, go read all the comments about what you print on this website when they use them in the http://www.topix.com You will not have the option of deleting anything YOU deem as "abusive" and have to live with it!! OH and btw, your classifieds section is very outdated going way back to 2007.. That is all now, you are dismissed!!

Apr 27, 2010, 5:02pm Permalink
bud prevost

John- you haven't a clue what you are talking about. And the link doesn't work. And "topix" is a sight I never post on because it's essentially an antagonistic sight. The mean-spirited tone, racist remarks, cruel sarcasm...I'm very good at all of those, but choose to be a better person than that.
You are welcome to discontinue your visits to Mr. Owens page, no one cares.
As for the story above, it's too sad to comment on.I can only imagine the awful final days that young child endured. Beyond sad

Apr 27, 2010, 6:30am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, your comment wasn't deleted because of the content of your opinion. I don't care one way or another about your opinion. It was deleted because you made a statement that constituted a personal attack.

Apr 27, 2010, 7:20am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

I went to the topics forums and what I seen made Howards points and rules all that much clearer. The topix site is a very negative place with barely any constructive discussion. I am not sure how Howard could sell advertising in this county and allow the type of comments that are posted on topix.

Apr 27, 2010, 7:51am Permalink
Sheryl Smigelski

Howard, I enjoy visiting The Batavian website. If Mr. Roberts thinks that this is the article to vent on he is sadly mistaken. What has happened to this child is a tragedy. I have deepest sympathy for his family, I cannot even imagine what they are going through right now.

Apr 27, 2010, 7:59am Permalink
cora lowe

Howard, i went to school with the little boys mom. this is every sad that is had happen to a child. when i talked to the mom she was tring to keep her head up with this. my thoughts are with her and her family.

Apr 27, 2010, 9:40am Permalink

John,

I went there and saw very little. I hear this a lot about Howard deleting offensive comments. Let me ask a question do you consider:

Mike ____ is an A@@ Whole! a private opinion? or something like that? If so, then that is a personal attack and against the rules.

Now if you said, I don't like the way Mike ____ conducts his business due to the fact that he has been late on invoices and the like....Well that is much less offensive, but still liabis. For the most part though, Howard leaves these because you stating an opinion with reason. He leaves it up to others to debate it, or he debates it himself.

I'm sure you don't want a lesson on this, but I think that some people truly don't understand the difference. I had a friend like this.

Understand John, this is a business. If you are coming on here attacking people and Howard does nothing, he will not only lose readers, but sponsors as well. If these few people on your broken link that I searched for are all that disagree, then I say so be it.

Apr 27, 2010, 9:56am Permalink
David Olivani

Horrible...just Horrible...
my heart goes out to the family of that little baby!

I hope she pays dearly for what she did to that little boy....

I never understood how a woman could hurt a chld?

sad...sad....

Apr 27, 2010, 1:33pm Permalink
Liz Fuchs

I can only imagine what all parties involved must be going through. The mother losing her child when left with a person she trusted. The father for losing a child, while in his care. The accused if she did it or not. That poor child. The pain he must have gone through. How could people be so cruel, and if not on purpose, so careless.... My thoughts and prayers are with the childs family.

Apr 27, 2010, 5:41pm Permalink

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