A North Whitehall Township woman convicted of asphyxiating and strangling a 1-year-old girl under her care as a foster mother was sentenced this week to a state prison term of 18-48 months.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced the sentence of Brenda Broadwater, 49, on charges of aggravated assault (victim less than 13), a felony of the first degree, and endangering the welfare of children (parent/guardian commits offense), a felony of the second degree. Judge Robert L. Steinberg issued the sentencing order.

Holihan said an agreement reached in the case called for a minimum sentence capped at 36 months in state prison for the case that dates back to Jan. 26, 2024, when state police received a call about a 1-year-old girl, identified as J.K., in cardiac arrest at Broadwater’s home at 4149 Coplay Creek Road in North Whitehall Township.

The district attorney said the 9-1-1 call revealed at 7:41 p.m., a male caller said J.K. was playing in a stroller and got a strap wrapped around her neck.

Officials said Broadwater was the foster mother of J.K., as well as two other children at the home.

J.K. was diagnosed with a mild anoxic brain injury resulting in expressive aphasia and ataxia in the setting of strangulation. The child’s injuries included verbal, speech and coordination deficits that will require various types of rehabilitation and therapies. It is yet unknown if the assault caused permanent injuries for J.K.

Holihan said police’s investigation determined Broadwater pushed a blanket into J.K.’s mouth and then left the child alone and improperly restrained in a stroller. Ligature marks to J.K.’s neck and injuries to her lower lip from the blanket were documented.

The case was investigated by Trooper Taylor Dietrich and was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer and Kristi Green.