CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — A Cumberland County woman already accused of providing false medical information to doctors regarding the condition of a child in her care, posting fraudulent donation requests on social media regarding the child's "health issues," and collecting the money and physically abusing the child, has now been charged with physically abusing other children in her care over a four-year span, State Police say.
Shelley Noreika, 47, of Newville, is charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault and strangulation after three children came forward claiming that they were physically and emotionally abused by her.
From 2017 to 2021, three victims have alleged that Noreika beat them, burned them, and in one case, made them pretend to be disabled.
Noreika was charged with aggravated assault and theft by deception in April for her alleged conduct with one girl in her care. Over a five-year span, police claim, Noreika gave misleading and false information to doctors and specialists involving the health and medical history of the child, which caused the girl to undergo unnecessary medical procedures.
In one instance, the victim underwent a procedure that surgically placed a feeding tube in her lower intestine, resulting in the child becoming ill, police say.
Police charged Noreika with additional counts of endangering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor count of simple assault in May after investigators learned she and her husband used a plastic whiffle ball bat to strike the victim while disciplining her, police claim.
Her husband, David Noreika, 48, was also charged with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children, a misdemeanor count of simple assault, and a summary offense of harassment in that case, police say.
Shelley Noreika was transported for arraignment at which time she was given $25,000 secured bail. She was then processed and committed to Cumberland County Prison.
