Background: The apartment building in Newton, Iowa, where Angelia Varner’s child fell (Google Maps). Inset: Angelia Varner (Jasper County Sheriff’s Office).
An Iowa woman was arrested after her 1-year-old toddler fell out of her apartment’s second-floor window while she was outside the home.
Angelia Varner, 35, was released on personal recognizance following her arrest on Monday, facing one count of child neglect. As per a criminal complaint viewed by Law&Crime, Varner was charged with leaving her three young children unattended on Aug. 18 when she went out to the parking lot of her residence in Newton, Iowa.
The complaint states that Varner informed police she had left her three young children — ages 23 months, 3 years, and 9 years — alone “for a few minutes” as she went outside. She mentioned to police that her 9-year-old was supervising the younger ones.
Police stated that several neighbors saw the toddler fall while Varner was outside in the parking lot.
The toddler had “abrasions and bruising” to her head after falling about 12 feet, according to police.
Police reported finding a “significantly” torn screen at the window from which the little girl fell when they inspected Varner’s apartment. The tear allowed a space large enough for a small child to fall through. Varner allegedly admitted to police that the screen had been damaged for “several months” and that she was aware it was open when she left the apartment that day. She claimed she was attempting to “cool” the home, according to police.
The apartment manager told police that Varner never requested that her window be fixed.
The complaint highlights that neighbors informed police they frequently observed the three children “playing at the open window and/or leaning out.” They also allegedly noticed the children “unattended” often playing outside without their mother present.
Varner was taken into custody on a charge of child neglect and booked into the Jasper County Jail. She was released on her own recognizance and is set to appear in court on Sept. 2.
