Sister Act 2: Sibling indicted in baby murder

By Matthew Lysiak
The Brooklyn Paper

The sister of the Bay Ridge woman who allegedly smothered her newborn baby girl and then left her outside to die is now facing charges of her own.

District Attorney Charles Hynes announced last week that a grand jury had indicted Andria Sergio, 27, of disposing of the body of the newborn that her sister allegedly smothered.

She was also charged with hindering a prosecution in the first, second and third degrees. All together, she’s facing seven years in jail.

“Initially, she was only charged with moving the body,” a source at the District Attorney’s office said. “But after looking at all the evidence, the grand jury added the charges of hindering the prosecution.”

Sergio pleaded not guilty at last Wednesday’s arraignment. A date for trial has been set for June 19.

The news comes only two weeks after the sister, Laura Sergio, 25, was indicted for murdering her newborn by allegedly smothering it with a towel shortly after giving birth on April 6.

Sergio’s lawyer Thomas Cascione, who has not responded to requests for comment, insisted at Laura Sergio’s arraignment earlier this month that his client never thought she was pregnant — and didn’t know what was happening, even after she gave birth.

Hynes believes the sisters had no excuse, especially since New York State law protects mothers who want to give up unwanted newborns.

“Pregnant women who do not want to keep their babies need to realize that there is a program, Baby Safe Haven, that allows them to legally leave their unharmed newborns at hospitals, firehouses, and churches throughout Brooklyn,” Hynes said.