Woman who threw girl, 5, in front of train deemed insane

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – A New Jersey woman who threw a 5-year-old girl in front of an approaching train in what she described as an attempted sacrifice has been found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity.

A judge made the ruling Wednesday after reviewing reports from two doctors who examined 20-year-old Autumn Matacchiera. The Hainesport woman will be committed to a psychiatric facility.

Authorities say the woman grabbed the girl at random in January and threw her on the tracks at a light-rail platform in Burlington City. Police jumped onto the tracks to signal the train to stop. The girl was rescued by her mother’s boyfriend but suffered a cut and some bruising.

Matacchiera said she believed she needed to make a sacrifice to win the love of an estranged relative.