A Silver Creek woman has been arrested in the death of her child.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, its Criminal Investigation Division commenced an investigation on April 29. That was when 12-year-old Maya Smith had passed away.

Deputies allege that Ashley C. Bertino, 36 of Silver Creek “did engage in a course of conduct evincing depraved indifference to human life, which created a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby caused the death of the 12-year-old juvenile victim.”

District Attorney Jason Schmidt confirmed Maya was the victim.

An arrest warrant was issued out of Hanover Town Court for second-degree murder.

Bertino was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Chautauqua County Jail for arraignment.

On April 30, the Silver Creek School Superintendent Katie Ralston issued a statement on Facebook regarding Maya’s death. “Anytime we face the death of a young member of our community, it impacts our entire school district. Counselors are available in our library throughout the day today for students in need of support,” she wrote.

Schmidt said late Friday afternoon that his office has been working with law enforcement since the child’s death in investigating the case. “This is the result of an ongoing investigation which began with the tragic, wholly preventable death of Maya Smith in April. Since then, investigators from the Sheriff’s Office together with our group at the DA’s Office have been working closely to get to the point where the imposition of criminal charges was appropriate,” he said.

Schmidt called on the general public to speak out any time they see possible abuse. “Each and every one of us have a duty, if not legal then moral, to be vigilant in protecting the health and safety of our children. If you see something suspicious, say something,” he said.