Pittsburgh Father Charged In Son's Death

A Pittsburgh man has been arrested in connection with the death of his seven-week-old son almost two years ago. Cory Neidert, 31, called 911 on February 1, 2020, claiming his son Luca had fallen down the stairs at their home on Delevan Street in the Greenfield neighborhood. Luca was found at the bottom of the stairs, crying.

Police claim that neither Neidert nor Luca’s mother would perform CPR on him, despite the urging of the 911 dispatcher. Both were reluctant to go to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with their son. Luca’s mother eventually went, but Neidert stayed behind for some while. 

Within an hour of arriving at the hospital, Luca was pronounced dead because of his injuries. The following day when his autopsy was performed, the medical examiner ruled Luca’s death a homicide, and his cause of death from blunt force trauma.  His autopsy revealed signs of being thrown down a flight of steps onto a cement floor.

During part of the initial investigation, Neidert’s blood was taken a few hours after Luca’s death. Neidert’s blood alcohol content was 0.11%, whereas Pennsylvania’s legal limit was 0.08%. Some witnesses have claimed that Neidert had a history of getting “black out drunk” but hadn’t in some time when Luca’s death occurred. 

Neidert offered the explanation that he had a history of sleepwalking, so he could have possibly dropped the baby while doing so. These claims were refuted by multiple witnesses, including Luca’s mother, not knowing Neidert to sleepwalk at all.

There has not been a clear explanation as to why there was nearly a two year gap between Luca’s death and the filing of homicide charges against Neidert.

Neidert surrendered himself to the police and has been charged with criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children, and recklessly endangering another person. He is currently in the Allegheny County Jail being held without bail.

Photo: Allegheny Country Sheriff’s Office