Dundee woman charged with negligent homicide in the death of a child

A Dundee woman has been charged with multiple crimes after two separate investigations by the Yates County Sheriff’s Office led to charges of benefits fraud and criminally negligent homicide. Samantha W. Crane, 36, was arrested Nov. 7 on charges of public assistance fraud and the death of her child in March.

Crane’s arrest on welfare fraud charges followed an investigation by the Sheriff’s Public Assistance Fraud Unit. Authorities allege Crane provided false information to obtain benefits to which she was not entitled. She has been charged with offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, grand larceny in the third degree and welfare fraud in the third degree. Following her arrest, Crane was arraigned in CAP Court.

In a separate case, Crane was also charged with negligent homicide in connection with the death of her five-month-old child. On March 20, Yates County deputies responded to a 911 call at Crane’s home on Union Street in Dundee, where they found the child unresponsive. Emergency services from Dundee Fire, Dundee EMS and Yates County EMS provided care, but the child was later pronounced dead at S&S Hospital. After a thorough investigation, authorities charged Crane with criminally negligent homicide, a Class E felony under New York law.

Crane was indicted on both charges and is awaiting further proceedings in Yates County CAP Court.

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