New Jersey Woman Accused in Death of Girl, 8

(Bridgeton, New Jersey) A 32-year-old local woman, Stephany James, has been accused of sending an 8-year-old girl, Aryonna Watson, to her death by ordering her to cross a dangerous street.

James faces charges of aggravated manslaughter and reckless manslaughter.

The order came after Watson had already made one diagonal crossing of the intersection of Delsea Drive and Sherman Avenue alone to look for James at a Rite Aid pharmacy, Cumberland County Assistant Prosecutor Charles Wettstein said.

James had left Watson alone at a bus stop on a corner of the intersection that was diaganol to the pharmacy with some purchases James made at a nearby ALDI supermarket, Wettstein said. James wanted Watson to return to the corner to stay with the purchases, he said.

Watson never made it across the intersection, which has four lanes for traffic and one center turning lane. She was struck by a car and died three days later.

James is in custody at the Cumberland County Jail with bail set at $200,000.