Mom accused of throwing baby into Pennsylvania river

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Police have identified the mother accused of throwing her baby into the Lehigh River in Allentown, Pennsylvania then jumping in herself.

Johnesha Perry, 19, of North Hall Street in Allentown, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

WFMZ-TV reports that bail for Perry has been set at $100,000.

The incident happened at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at the Hamilton Street Bridge.

Witnesses told police that they saw a 19-year-old woman push a stroller with her 1-year-old onto the bridge.

That's when, according to authorities, the woman did the unthinkable.

Johnny Liciaga drove up to the scene moments after.

"I saw a stroller half way down the sidewalk and when I got over here, they were telling me a lady threw her baby over the bridge then she jumped off," said Liciaga.

The mother made it out of the water onto the embankment then collapsed.

Her baby was 700 yards downstream and was in the water for four minutes.

Officer Joseph Ianetta pulled him from the water then began CPR with fellow Officer John Leonard.

The officers were able to revive the infant.

Both the baby and the mother were taken to Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital in serious condition.

Police say it's 52-feet drop from the bridge to the water and it's a miracle that they survived.

"I just hope that they make it - that's all I hope," said Liciaga.

Police say this appears to have been an attempted murder-suicide, but the investigation continues.