William Page Accused Of Leaving 23-Month-Old To Die In Cold
POSTED: 1:06 pm EST March 12, 2010
UPDATED: 6:56 pm EST March 12, 2010
PITTSBURGH -- Prosecutors continue to build their case against a local man accused of leaving his toddler daughter to die in the cold.
The body of 23-month-old Nyia Page was found in Rankin in February 2007. The little girl had been left outside, half naked, and froze to death.
William Page, of Braddock, stands accused of killing his daughter.
According to police, Page became frustrated because the girl had taken off her diaper and that he kicked her before taking her outside and dropping her off in freezing temperatures.
Page said that Nyia cried for 10 minutes before he left her and went back home to bed, police said.
Channel 4 Action News reporter Sheldon Ingram was at the courthouse on Friday.
Ingram reported that the court heard from detectives from Allegheny County Police, describing the discovery and condition of the child's body.
One of the investigators recalled the moment when Page was told his daughter's body had been discovered.
The investigator said Page fell to the floor in an apparent emotional rage, acting as if he was crying, but there were no tears, Ingram reported.
The investigator said Page first denied any involvement in the disappearance of his daughter, but eventually confessed.
"Page stated he struck her in the chest with the back of his hand…caused Nyia to fall backwards, striking her head. Page stated he carried Nyia outside…he left her wrapped in a blanket," the investigator said.
Further police testimony revealed that Nyia Page managed to walk 125 feet toward Hawkins Village before succumbing in the 12 degree temperatures.
She was found in the snow wearing only a sweater.
Ingram reported that prosecutors plan to play Page's taped confession in court on Monday.
In court on Thursday, police also introduced a Terrible Towel, a T-shirt and women's underwear that the police crime lab said were found in the family's basement and had blood on them.
Also testifying Thursday was a boy whose statements put Page inside the room that the child shared with Nyia Page on the night she disappeared. He was 6 at the time it happened.
The boy said Page sexually abused him, and when he told Page to stop, the man grabbed his mouth to silence him and ran from the room.
Nyia followed her father out of the bedroom, according to the boy, who said that was the last time he saw her. Hours later, she was found dead.
The defense attorney questioned whether the boy really remembered the events of that night during his cross-examination.
Page is expected to testify on his behalf at some point. Seven men and five women will decide his fate, and prosecutors have indicated that they will ask for the death penalty if there's a guilty verdict.
On the first day of the trial close to a dozen of Page's family members were in the courtroom for opening arguments.
At one point Wednesday, William Page's mother suffered a seizure in the courtroom. A recess was called while county sheriff's deputies and medics tended to the woman and she was taken to a hospital.
Prosecutors played a 911 call that Nyia Page's mother, Darlene Robinson, made when she learned that the girl was missing.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli told the jury they will hear from 24 witnesses.
The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
Judge David Cashman is presiding.
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