PITTSBURGH _ An East McKeesport woman, who told police she "didn't want the kids anyway," was held for trial Wednesday afternoon on charges of attempted homicide after her children had to be rushed to a hospital from their elementary school when they appeared to be overdosing on drugs.
Samantha Brown, 27, had two counts of attempted homicide added to the list of charges already filed against her.
Her preliminary hearing was held before Forest Hills District Judge Thomas P. Caulfield. She was sent back to jail following the hearing, which lasted more than three hours.
According to a criminal complaint, Brown gave her sons _ ages 8 and 9 _ the prescription drug Klonopin, which is used to treat anxiety, before school March 1. Klonopin is also used to treat epilepsy.
The children exhibited signs of an overdose while they were at Propel Braddock Hills Elementary School.
The complaint said the 8-year-old was unresponsive on the floor and that he had vomited and was foaming at the mouth. The 9-year-old was described as dazed and also foaming at the mouth.
The children were treated at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
In addition to attempted homicide, Brown is charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment and possession with intent to deliver.
Braddock Hills police investigated.
Police said one of the boys, while en route to the hospital in an ambulance March 1, said his mom "made him take Klonopin this morning," according to the complaint.
When Brown arrived at the hospital, police said, she gave varying accounts of what had happened. At one point, while being interviewed by Allegheny County detectives, she told officers, she "didn't want the kids anyway."
