Background: The apartment building in Newton, Iowa, where Angelia Varner”s baby fell (Google Maps). Inset: Angelia Varner (Jasper County Sheriff’s Office).

The toddler fortunately suffered only non-life-threatening injuries, which included abrasions and bruising to the head. According to police reports, Varner had left her three children—putting her 9-year-old in charge of the younger siblings—while she stepped out briefly. During her absence, neighbors witnessed the youngest child plummet 12 feet from the window.

Upon investigation, officers discovered a torn screen on the window from which the toddler fell. The building’s landlord alleged that Varner had never requested repairs for the damaged screen. Varner admitted to being aware of the tear but chose to leave the window open to help cool down the apartment.

While Varner was away from her three children, Neighbors watched her youngest fall 12 feet from a window, police said.

Police said that the toddler suffered “abrasions and bruising” to her head but no life-threatening injuries. Inside the apartment, officers found a torn screen on the window where the toddler fell. The property’s landlord claimed Varner never requested it be fixed. Varner said she knew the screen was torn, and she left it open to “cool” the apartment.

Neighbors told police they often saw Varner’s three children “play at the open window and/or lean out of it.” They also saw the children playing unattended outside the apartment.

Varner was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to one charge of felony neglect of a dependent person.

She also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of felony neglect of a dependent person in connection with an incident on Sept. 25. According to reporting by local news outlet KNIA/KRLS, Varner fell asleep in her bedroom after leaving the stove on. She closed the bedroom door and left her two younger children unattended while smoke from the oven filled the apartment. Her oldest child was found outside the apartment, trying to get someone to open the door.  Varner was sentenced to the same probation term.