WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – A New York special education teacher accused of killing her severely disabled 8-year-old daughter by withholding food and medical care could inherit nearly $1 million from the girl's trust fund — even if she's convicted.
Nicole Diggs and her now-husband have pleaded not guilty to charges of negligent homicide and child endangerment in the 2012 death of Alayah Savarese (sah-vuh-REES').
Authorities say Alayah wasn't regularly fed, didn't receive proper medical treatment and suffered welts from neglect. Diggs' lawyer denies her client neglected Alayah.
If convicted, Diggs wouldn't automatically be prohibited from inheriting because the charge doesn't allege she intended to kill the girl.
The $2 million trust fund came from a malpractice settlement stemming from complications during Alayah's birth. The girl was unable to walk, talk or feed herself.
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