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Inset: Jovanna Allen (Dimon Funeral Home). Background: Home in Wiconisco Township, Pennsylvania, where Jovanna drowned, cops say (Google Maps).
A 32-year-old woman reportedly dozed off after consuming Crown Royal Apple, which tragically resulted in her 10-month-old daughter drowning in a bathtub in a Pennsylvania residence.
Sadie Marie Ressler, who marked her birthday on Monday by being taken into custody, now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter along with two counts of child endangerment, as detailed in court records.
The Pennsylvania State Police were called to a home on Center Street in Wiconisco Township, about 30 miles northeast of Harrisburg, around 7:30 p.m. on August 14, according to a criminal complaint. A neighbor of Ressler dialed 911 after Ressler fled her home, crying out for assistance. Troopers arrived to find the young girl unresponsive.
Jovanna Allen, the victim, was taken to a hospital but was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival. After being read her Miranda rights, Ressler told detectives she was the only caregiver at the time for Jovanna and another child, aged 2. She reportedly placed both children in a bathtub with a few inches of water. Police noted that Jovanna was “underdeveloped” and lacked the ability to “self-rescue while in water.”
Ressler mentioned that she was leaning against a sink, engaging with her phone while the kids were in the tub, as stated in the affidavit. She claimed she couldn’t see the far end of the bathtub, and upon looking, she noticed Jovanna floating face down. She said she lifted the girl from the water but couldn’t recall subsequent events, as she stated, “I don’t even know.”
According to the affidavit, Ressler denied any alcohol or drug use. However, during a search, officers reportedly discovered an open bottle of Crown Royal Apple and smoked marijuana cigarettes in an ashtray near a playpen accessible to the children. The home was described by troopers as “cluttered and unkempt,” with several uninflated balloons scattered around, posing potential choking hazards for young children.
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.