Babysitter Who Gave Baby Lethal Dose of Benadryl Found Guilty of Manslaughter 5 Years After Infant's Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Dixie Villa.Photo:Island News

Island News

Villa was charged with manslaughter in July 2019 after an autopsy report showed that 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch — who was found dead at Villa’s home on Feb. 24, 2019 — died of diphenhydramine (an antihistamine found in Benadryl) toxicity.

Abigail Lobisch.GoFundMe

GoFundMe

Villa’s defense attorney Megan Kau said she will file a motion for a mistrial because the deputy prosecutor told the court Friday that new evidence had emerged that Abigail’s mother, Anna Lobisch, co-slept with her, per theStar-Advertiser. Kau argued that it is an issue if Anna lied during her testimony and the prosecution withheld information.

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During the trial, Kau argued that others, including Anna and Abigail’s father, could have given diphenhydramine to Abigail, while she said Anna also could have had the drug in her system from taking Tylenol and then breastfeeding Abigail.

But Kaeo said Villa was the only person capable of administering the drug and said she was overwhelmed at having to look after three other children at the same time —  Abigail’s 2-year-old brother and two of her own children, who were also under the age of 5 — and had pacified the older kids with iPads and Abigail with the drug, per theStar-Advertiser.

source: people.com