Woman accused of killing 12-year-old boy in Chautauqua County

HANOVER TOWN (WKBW) — A Silver Creek woman has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 12-year-old boy.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Ashley Bertino “engaged in a course of conduct that demonstrated a depraved indifference to human life that created a serious risk of death to another person.” The death occurred in April. An arrest warrant was issued in Hanover Township.

Investigators are not releasing any further details about the victim or how the child died.

In March, Bertino was arrested following an investigation into the sale of narcotics at Save A Lot on Main Street in North Collins, where Bertino worked as a manager. When he was taken into custody, he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and suspected hydrocodone pills, according to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Bertino is currently being held in the Chautauqua County Jail.