Prosecutors say the 18-month-old boy was left unattended while his mother drank vodka in another room.
MERRICK, N.Y. — A Long Island mother is facing manslaughter and child endangerment charges after prosecutors said her 18-month-old son choked to death on an unpopped popcorn kernel in April.
Olivia Bithorn, 36, also known as Olivia Russell, has pleaded not guilty in Nassau County Supreme Court. Prosecutors said her son, Luke Russell Jr., died after he and his 3-year-old sister were left alone with unpopped popcorn kernels while Bithorn drank alcohol in a bathroom.
The case centers on what prosecutors described as reckless conduct, not a brief accident. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Bithorn allegedly gave the children a bag of kernels and then was not present when Luke began choking. Investigators said the girl later alerted her mother that something was wrong.
Police found Luke unresponsive at the Merrick home, prosecutors said. Court records said unpopped kernels were found near the child, and investigators also found a nearly empty bottle of vodka in the bathroom. Authorities said they believe Luke had been dead for more than an hour before 911 was called.
“She allegedly was intoxicated,” Donnelly said after a court appearance. “She was not present. She was not there.” Prosecutors said the children were visiting Bithorn overnight when the choking happened. Bithorn’s attorney has disputed the allegations, and the charges remain accusations unless proven in court.
A grand jury indicted Bithorn on one count of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors said the child’s death followed earlier concerns tied to alcohol abuse and child safety. They argued those records showed a pattern of risk.
Judge Tammy Robbins set bail at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. Bithorn is receiving treatment at a rehabilitation facility while the case moves forward. If convicted on the manslaughter charge, she could face five to 15 years in prison.
The next steps will come in Nassau County court, where prosecutors are expected to continue presenting records from the investigation and the defense is expected to challenge the state’s account of what happened.
Author note: Last updated July 2, 2026.