2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman charged with murder
By: Noah Cohen
Issue date: 5/25/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 4:36 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 4:36 AM EST
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 4:36 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 4:36 AM EST
Drexel freshman Mia Sardella surrendered to Upper Darby Police on May 22 to face murder charges in connection with the death of her child and has been released on $250,000 bail after a hearing held May 23.
Sardella has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and concealing the death of a child, among other offenses, according to court documents.
Sardella was held in Delaware County Jail overnight until being released on bail the morning of May 23.
Upper Darby Township Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said that police have identified the father; at this time he is not being charged.
The father is not a student at Drexel according to Chitwood.
Police searched Sardella's Van Rensselaer dorm room on Jan. 23. Chitwood said that forensic evidence from that scene is still being processed.
He declined to comment on the specifics of evidence collected by investigators.
As the investigation progressed, Chitwood accused the Delaware County District Attorney's Office of withholding information because of pressure from Sardella's wealthy grandparents.
The medical examiner had determined the cause of the infant's death, however the District Attorney was withholding the report, according to Chitwood.
"If this would have been somebody from a lower socioeconomic background, would we be here today?" Chitwood told The Philadelphia Daily News in a March 18 article.
Sardella's grandfather Albert E. Piscopo is chief executive of the Glenmede Trust Company.
At the time of publication, Chitwood said that the issues had been resolved and that all sides were working well together.
The family has cooperated with police, according to Chitwood.
"This Affiant conducted interviews and obtained signed written statements from Albert and Joan Piscopo," according to law enforcement records.
Sardella's lawyer, Arthur Donato, told The Philadelphia Inquirer "his client's behavior typifies the denial of pregnancy syndrome."
Sardella has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and concealing the death of a child, among other offenses, according to court documents.
Sardella was held in Delaware County Jail overnight until being released on bail the morning of May 23.
Upper Darby Township Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said that police have identified the father; at this time he is not being charged.
The father is not a student at Drexel according to Chitwood.
Police searched Sardella's Van Rensselaer dorm room on Jan. 23. Chitwood said that forensic evidence from that scene is still being processed.
He declined to comment on the specifics of evidence collected by investigators.
As the investigation progressed, Chitwood accused the Delaware County District Attorney's Office of withholding information because of pressure from Sardella's wealthy grandparents.
The medical examiner had determined the cause of the infant's death, however the District Attorney was withholding the report, according to Chitwood.
"If this would have been somebody from a lower socioeconomic background, would we be here today?" Chitwood told The Philadelphia Daily News in a March 18 article.
Sardella's grandfather Albert E. Piscopo is chief executive of the Glenmede Trust Company.
At the time of publication, Chitwood said that the issues had been resolved and that all sides were working well together.
The family has cooperated with police, according to Chitwood.
"This Affiant conducted interviews and obtained signed written statements from Albert and Joan Piscopo," according to law enforcement records.
Sardella's lawyer, Arthur Donato, told The Philadelphia Inquirer "his client's behavior typifies the denial of pregnancy syndrome."
