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Inset: Jovanna Allen (Dimon Funeral Home). Background: Home in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania, where Jovanna drowned, cops say (Google Maps).
A tragic incident unfolded in Pennsylvania when a 32-year-old woman allegedly fell asleep after consuming Crown Royal Apple, leading to the drowning of her 10-month-old daughter in a bathtub.
Sadie Marie Ressler, who marked her birthday with an arrest, now faces charges including involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment, according to court documents.
The unfortunate event took place on August 14, around 7:30 p.m., when Pennsylvania State Police were called to the 500 block of Center Street in Wiconisco Township, about 30 miles northeast of Harrisburg. The call came after Ressler’s neighbor dialed 911 upon hearing her desperate cries for help. Upon arrival, officers found the young girl unresponsive.
The child, identified as Jovanna Allen, was immediately transported to a hospital where she was declared deceased. During an interview with detectives, Ressler, who was the sole caregiver for Jovanna and a 2-year-old child at the time, recounted placing them in a bathtub with several inches of water. Police noted in their report that Jovanna was “underdeveloped” and unable to perform “self-rescue” in the water.
Ressler admitted to being seated against the sink while the children were in the tub, distracted by her phone. She told authorities she could not see the back of the tub and only noticed Jovanna “floating face down” when she finally looked. Ressler retrieved her daughter from the water but claimed she could not recall what occurred afterward, stating, “I don’t even know.”
The defendant denied using any alcohol or drugs, the affidavit stated. But when cops searched the home they allegedly found an open bottle of Crown Royal Apple and burnt marijuana cigarettes in an ashtray next to a playpen which was in reach of the kids. Troopers also described the home as “cluttered and unkempt.” There were several uninflated balloons throughout the first floor of the home that could be a choking hazard for small children, cops said.
Hospital staff drew Ressler’s blood about four hours after the 911 call that showed she had a blood alcohol content of 0.035. Troopers believe it was “significantly higher” at the time she placed her kids in the bathtub, the complaint stated. Detectives also discovered that while she was at the hospital she made two Google searches on her phone: “Can you tell how much alcohol I drank from a blood test?” and “How long does alcohol stay in the blood?”
In October, Ressler conducted a second interview with detectives with her attorney present during which she changed her story about what happened the night of the drowning. She allegedly admitted that she “fell asleep” while sitting on the floor as the kids were taking a bath.
“The defendant admitted to conduct that is negligent and reckless, placing the victims in the circumstance that ultimately caused one death and endangered the other in the same manner,” troopers concluded.
Ressler is slated to next appear in court on Jan. 7.
Jovanna’s obituary said she “brought immense pride and joy to her family.”
“She was the perfect little girl. Being born premature, Jovanna overcame many obstacles and was thriving, just beginning to learn to crawl. Her beautiful blue eyes could light up any room,” the obituary said.