Parents in septic tank death denied custody

HOOKSTOWN, Pa. - October 6, 2009 Instead, a Beaver County judge on Thursday has ruled the sisters of Wyatt Smitsky should continue to stay with their grandparents for now.

A coroner says Wyatt drowned Sept. 5 in the septic tank on his family's property in Greene Township, about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. But authorities have yet to rule whether the boy accidentally fell into the tank or whether his death was the result of criminal negligence or some other crime.

The boy was playing with two young sisters when he went missing, prompting an 18-hour search.

A prosecutor says it's possible the boy removed the tank's 14-pound lid by himself before he wound up in the tank.

Follow Action News on Twitter

Get Action News on your website

Follow Action News on Facebook

Click here to get the latest Philadelphia news and headlines from across the Delaware and Lehigh valleys.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.