The New Jersey woman who threw a stranger’s 5-year-old daughter in front
of an oncoming train as part of a “human sacrifice” will stand trial
after pleading not guilty.
Autumn N. Matacchiera, 20, was charged with first-degree attempted
murder after she allegedly tossed a little girl she didn’t know on the
tracks at the Burlington township light rail station.
Matacchiera pleaded not guilty to the crime during a Tuesday appearance
at the Burlington County Superior Court, the Courier-Post reports.
Matacchiera was arrested in January after she grabbed a woman’s child
and tossed the girl in front of an approaching River LINE train.
An officer witnessed the incident and was able to signal for the train
to stop, as the woman’s boyfriend jumped onto the tracks to retrieve the
child.
The girl was taken to the hospital with minor cuts and bruises.
Matacchiera told the Courier-Post shortly after the incident that she
was trying to sacrifice the girl to win the love of an estranged
relative.
Her attorney, Brenda Maneri, told the judge Matacchiera plans to plead
not guilty by reason of insanity and will request a bench trial.