PREVIOUSLY:

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A new charge has been levied against a woman accused of murdering a 2-year-old foster child in 2021.

Ashley Pearce-Pifferini was charged with felony child abuse by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office last Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty today.

During the investigation into Phoenix Jayden Asti’s death, police testified they found Pearce-Pifferini texted an image of the boy with bruising on the side of his face to her partner on Oct. 24, 2021.

When examining the image in court, a child abuse expert testified the markings were consistent with bruising from an open hand slap.

According to police testifying on digital forensics, she texted her partner she couldn’t figure out what he would have done to cause the injuries.

The new charge alleges the woman willfully caused unjustifiable physical pain and mental suffering to Asti on Oct. 24, 2021, according to an updated complaint.

Previously, Pearce-Pifferini was held to answer to charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. Experts testified during a preliminary hearing the severity of injuries Asti died from could not have been caused by incidents she said caused his head trauma — including banging his own head on a crib because he was mad, or a possible short fall in the bathtub.

Earlier this month, prosecutors argued that medical evidence, including details from Asti’s autopsy, showed substantial internal head injuries with multiple impact sites. Prosecutors alleged Pearce-Pifferini repeatedly slammed the boy, causing the blunt impact head trauma that ultimately killed him.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorney noted wrongful convictions are common in these types of cases, and pointed to issues in relying on medical records to explain the boy’s death. He also noted efforts the woman, who has a long history of fostering and no criminal record, took to get medical care for the boy after he was injured on two occasions.

Both sides are expected to bring experts to testify during the trial. The next hearing was set for June 12.

A judge previously found there was enough evidence to go to trial, while noting there was room for more information. He pointed to expert testimony agreeing there could be another explanation for his death, when asked to weigh in on hypotheticals during cross examination.

Asti, a two year old foster child, was described during court proceedings as being “very active and full of life” by District Attorney’s Office Investigator Ryan Hill, who was assigned the case in 2021 and interviewed social workers who knew the boy.

Asti had been in the care of Pearce-Pifferini and her partner from July 2021 until his death that November.

Pearce-Pifferini remains out of custody on a $1 million bail.