Site last updated: Thursday, March 28, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Butler woman charged with child endangerment

A young mother's three children were left to fend for themselves in a Butler home filling with smoke last week after the woman passed out from drinking alcohol with the oven turned on, city police said.

Police Wednesday arrested 24-year-old Samantha L. McConnell on three felony counts of child endangerment.

She is in the Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail.

Butler County Children and Youth Services caseworkers notified police about 4:10 p.m. June 23 during a routine welfare check on the defendant's children, ages 3, 6 and 7, at the family's home in the 300 block of Mitchell Avenue.

“When CYS arrived,” according to court documents, “they found the house to be filled with smoke and the children seemingly unsupervised.”

The caseworkers got the children out and turned off the oven, police said. The food that had been cooking in the oven was burned.

Butler Patrolman David Villotti said officers found McConnell unresponsive and lying on the bathroom floor. It took the officers about two minutes to wake her.

The defendant, who appeared intoxicated, admitted to “drinking vodka throughout the day,” documents said.

She told police that she did not know her children were home.

“She repeatedly told officers that she was taking a nap while she waited for her children to get home,” Villotti said in his criminal complaint.

The children are staying with relatives.

More in Digital Media Exclusive

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS