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Background: News footage of the apartment building in Uniontown, Pa., where Vira Zabudko allegedly tried to drown two children and their mother (WPXI). Inset: Vira Zabudko (Fayette County Sheriff”s Office).
A shocking incident unfolded in Pennsylvania when a mother entrusted her roommate with the care of her two young children, only to return and allegedly find her roommate attempting to harm them.
Vira Zabudko, 40, is facing serious charges including aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, and recklessly endangering another person. She was released on bond after the charges were filed on March 27. The Uniontown Police Department reported that the children’s mother had left her two sons in Zabudko’s care while she stepped out for an errand. Upon returning, she reportedly discovered a terrifying scene: Zabudko was allegedly trying to push her 5-year-old son out of a third-story window.
Details from a criminal complaint, as reported by local ABC affiliate WTAE, reveal that the mother had asked Zabudko to keep an eye on her 5- and 11-year-old boys while she moved some belongings. Her return was met with resistance, as Zabudko reportedly refused to let her back into the apartment. Once inside, the mother allegedly found Zabudko attempting to force her younger son through a window screen.
According to police, the situation escalated into a physical confrontation. Zabudko allegedly instructed the 5-year-old to enter the shower, claiming he needed to “wash the sins out because he is dirty.” The criminal complaint further accuses Zabudko of attempting to drag the mother into the shower, submerging both her and her son’s heads underwater in the bathtub.
Thankfully, the mother managed to escape with her children. When authorities arrived, they found the mother and her sons soaked, but safe from imminent danger.
Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele informed WPXI that, although the children showed no physical injuries, the ongoing investigation might lead to additional charges against Zabudko.
Zabudko was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful restraint, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and simple assault. She was booked into the Fayette County Jail and posted bond. She was ordered not to have contact with the woman or her sons upon release. Her next court date is scheduled for April 9.
