Mom charged with trying to kill her 2 sons with drug

Overdosed at school

An East McKeesport woman, who had told police she “didn’t want the kids anyway,” has been held for trial on attempted homicide and other charges after her children had to be rushed to a hospital from their charter school when they appeared to be overdosing on drugs.

Samantha Brown, 27, was held for court on two counts of attempted homicide in connection with the incident that occurred March 1 at Propel Braddock Hills Elementary School.

According to a criminal complaint, Ms. 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 complaint said the school principal was called to a classroom by another teacher and found the 8year-old was unresponsive on the floor. She told detectives “the floor was full of vomit, and he was foaming at the mouth.” The 9-year-old was described as dazed and also foaming at the mouth.

Both children were taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where they were admitted after being treated in the emergency room. Doctors there determined that both children were under the influence of prescription drugs.

The 9-year-old told school officials that his mother made him take three Klonopin pills that morning, according to the affidavit.

The 8-year-old told hospital personnel that he also took three doses of Klonopin and an unknown red pill.

Forest Hills District Judge

Thomas P. Caulfield ordered Ms. Brown held for trial on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment and possession with intent to deliver. She was returned to the Allegheny County Jail following a three-hour hearing.

When Ms. Brown arrived at the hospital, police said, she gave varying accounts of what had happened. At one point, while being interviewed later on March 1 by Allegheny County detectives, she told officers, she “didn’t want the kids anyway.”

Police also said they confiscated a prescription bottle for 60 Clonazepam tablets from her purse, but the bottle contained 11 pills.