Domi Good: New York woman, 26, is arrested for harassing the family of a two-year-old girl with genetic disorder by sending threatening messages on Facebook and GoFundMe and mailing letters to their house

A New York woman has been arrested for allegedly harassing a child with a genetic disorder on social media for the past year and sending threatening letters to her home.

Krista Sewell, 26, of Melville, Long Island was arrested on Thursday on charges of aggravated harassment as a hate crime, a felony.

She harassed two-year-old Anna Riley who lives in Ulster County, and has from harlequin ichthyosis, a condition that causes skin abnormalities and affects breathing and movement.

Infants with this condition are born with hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies that cracks easily.

Anna's mother Jennie Riley runs a Facebook page called Hope for Anna that raises awareness about her condition.

Police say Sewell posted messages threatening two-year-old Anna Riley on Facebook, Instagram and GoFundMe over the last year. Anna has a genetic condition called harlequin ichthyosis which affects the skin

Not only did Sewell harass little Anna's family on social media but she also mailed threatening letters to her family's home. Anna pictured above with her mother Jennie Riley

Police say Sewell posted messages threatening Anna on Facebook, Instagram and GoFundMe raising funds for the little girl over the past year. She also mailed threatening letters to her home.

WHAT IS HARLEQUIN ICHTHYOSIS?

Harlequin ichthyosis is a severe genetic disorder that mainly affects the skin.

It is unclear how many people suffer from it.

Babies born with the condition have very hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies.

This skin forms large plates separated by deep cracks, which limit movement.

Restricted movement of the chest can lead to breathing difficulties and respiratory failure.

Most sufferers die from infections within the first few weeks of life.

This is due to the skin normally forming a protective barrier between the body and the outside environment.

Skin abnormalities in Harlequin ichthyosis disrupt this barrier, which also makes it harder for patients to regulate their temperature and control water loss.

There is no cure, however, moisturisers help to keep patients' skin soft, while antibiotics fight any infections.

Jennie posted on Facebook following Sewell's arrest saying she refuses for her daughter 'to hide from her disorder with some sort of shame about having different skin.'

'One day she will have to go out on her own to face the world and I will do everything in my power to make sure she has the confidence that is needed. I hope so much that people learn there is someone on the other side of their keyboards and it’s not ok to send hateful messages,' she said.

She shared a statement revealing she was shocked at first when she received the negative messages from Sewell.

'Although I knew there was a possibility for negativity I never expected to receive the messages that were sent to me. Over the past year I have fought a battle I never thought I would fight and I felt fear no mother should feel,' she said to NBC.

'I want to thank the New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department for their diligence, dedication and most of all their compassion. I hope we can all learn from this and understand the importance of teaching our kids kindness and acceptance of visible differences,' she added.

Riley shared news reports of Sewell's arrest on Facebook writing: 'Maybe we can bring cyber harassment to the forefront and teach people that a real person is always at the other end of your comments and messages.'

After Sewell was arrested Riley shared this post on Instagram saying: 'I refuse for Anna to hide from her disorder with some sort of shame about having different skin'