Irving PD: Mom Of 3 Drowned Children Texting At Pool
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IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - Irving police have arrested 30-year-old Patricia Allen in connection with the drowning deaths of her three children.
Allen, who took all five of her children to an Irving apartment complex pool on June 24, has been charged with Injury to a Child, a second-degree felony.
Police say the drownings were initially investigated as accidents, but during the investigation they talked to witnesses who said Allen was on her phone and texting while her children were in the pool. The witnesses also told police none of the children were wearing any kind of floatation device. Allen admitted she did not know how to swim.
Two other witnesses told police Allen didn't recognize her children were under water until they walked into the pool area.
Three of Allen's children, Anthony Smith, 11, August Smith, 10, and Treshawn Smith, 9, were pulled from the pool that day. August died shortly after being pulled out of the pool. First responders said the water was so cloudy, it was difficult to find her and she spent more time under water than her brothers. Anthony and Treshawn died five days later in the hospital.
Allen is being held in the Irving jail on a $50,000 bond.
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