August 20, 2016
gofundme//Contributed photo
Ariana Smyth was sexually assaulted and brutalized, allegedly by a recent boyfriend of her mother. The couple were in court Friday, him for sexual assault and murder charges, her for endangering the welfare of a child. The mother did not report her child's injuries for about 11 hours.
An online petition calls for additional charges to be filed against a Gloucester City mother in the death of her 1-year-old daughter.
Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo charged Amber Bobo, 26, in July with endangering the welfare of a child after waiting 11 hours before seeking medical attention for her daughter.
The petition urges county officials to charge Bobo with first-degree murder. More than 2,400 signatures have been added to the petition as of Saturday afternoon.
According to NJ.com, the petition was created Tuesday by 28-year-old Barnegat resident Marilyn Mesmer, who said, "There needs to be more charges. She's gonna walk on this — it's a first offense."
Ariana Smyth, who was just shy of her second birthday, died due to numerous injuries that were allegedly inflicted by Bobo's boyfriend, 22-year-old Manahawkin resident Michael Disporto Jr., who was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault.
On July 3, Bobo noticed bruises on the child, but Disporto denied any knowledge of the injuries. The couple went to the Deptford Mall where the child began vomiting and eventually lost consciousness.
As Bobo finally called for help, Disporto told her he would stop dating her.
Medical personnel discovered bruising on Smyth's head and back, bleeding and fluid on her brain, bruising and swelling consistent with sexual assault in her genital area, a broken arm, bruising and fluid in the lungs and both blood and urine in her abdomen.
Emergency surgery was performed, but doctors were unable to save the girl.
Both Bobo and Disporto were arrested later that week.
Disporto is facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
To read the petition, click here.
