The mother of a 2-year-old girl who drowned in the Allegheny River in August has been charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Patti Jo Vargason, 39, 215 Valley View Lane, was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police earlier today.

The incident occurred on Aug. 21.

Troopers say in the affidavit of probable cause that Vargason’s 5-year-old son led them to the location on the river where the 2-year-old fell in. Vargason told police that the 5-year-old woke her up screaming that the 2-year-old had fallen into the river.

Investigators say Vargason told them “And today obviously Mommy slept in because I’m tired, I got all these kids. I’m tired. That’s no excuse, but.”

A multi-agency search resulted in the recovery of the 2-year-old’s body the following day about 1 mile downstream.

See Thursday’s Times Observer for a full story.