A Pennsylvania woman is facing serious charges after police say she pushed her mother during a heated argument, causing a fall that proved fatal days later.
Elissa Blair Waltman, 34, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and simple assault in connection with the death of her mother, 63-year-old Eileen Flugrath. Waltman is currently being held without bail at Lancaster County Prison.
The incident occurred on the morning of April 5 at Flugrath’s home in Millersville, a small borough located roughly 80 miles west of Philadelphia. Officers responding to a call around 10:30 a.m. arrived to find Flugrath lying injured and bleeding at the base of a staircase. During their investigation, authorities noticed a mark on the wall near the top of the stairs — something a witness said hadn’t been there before, suggesting a struggle had taken place.
When questioned, Waltman initially told investigators that she and her mother had been arguing, and that Flugrath simply lost her balance and fell on her own. She denied any physical contact, claiming she had only raised her voice during the dispute.
However, as detectives continued piecing together the case, Waltman reportedly changed her account, eventually admitting that she had shoved her mother, sending her into the wall before she tumbled down the staircase.
A neighbor living on the floor below told police they heard a loud crash, then went to check and discovered Flugrath lying face-down at the bottom of the steps. The witness said Waltman was standing at the top of the stairs at the time, yelling and insisting she had never touched her mother.
Flugrath was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she battled her injuries for four days before ultimately succumbing to them.
Following further investigation, Waltman was taken into custody. Authorities allege she pushed her mother into the wall, leading to the fatal fall down the staircase.
She appeared in court for arraignment on Thursday, where a judge denied her request for bail. Waltman is scheduled to appear again for a preliminary hearing later this month, on June 23, as the case moves forward.
