Top Stories

Mother of missing Penn Hills twins pleads guilty

PITTSBURGH — A Penn Hills woman pleaded guilty Monday to lying to police about the location of her missing twin children and collecting government benefits for them.

Patricia Fowler appeared before Judge Thomas Flaherty in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on charges of welfare fraud, child endangerment and making false statements to police.

Fowler pleaded guilty to lying to police about her missing twins and cashing welfare checks on their behalf totaling nearly $60,000 over five years.

She received three to six months in jail, but because she received credit for time served, she won't serve any jail time. She was also ordered to four years' probation and ordered to pay back the $60,000, but her attorney said he doubts she will be able to pay it back.

TRENDING NOW:

In exchange for Patricia Fowler’s guilty plea, charges against her older son, Datwon Fowler, were dropped. Police said he posed as one of his missing siblings in text messages with a detective.

The case began in August, when Children, Youth and Families workers went to Patricia Fowler’s home to place four of her children in protective custody. CYF officials later contacted police when they couldn’t locate Ivon and Inisha, fraternal twins who would now be 18, and admitted the agency hadn’t verified their whereabouts in a decade.

These are age-progressed photos of Ivon and Inisha provided by authorities:

Patricia Fowler told police several different stories about the twins’ whereabouts, all of which were found to be false, according to court documents. She later told police she’d sold the twins for $2,000 each, but then retracted that story when she discovered the penalties for selling a child.

After Monday's hearing, Channel 11 News asked her where her twins were, but she did not answer.

Like his mother, Dawton Fowler left court on Monday as a free person. Dawton Fowler's attorney, Richard McCague, said if Patricia Fowler's twins are ever found, she may find herself back in court.

"Out there somewhere are two children, and if they are found alive, that's one thing. They may bring charges against her for that. If they are found dead, they will bring charges for that as well," McCague said.

Patricia Fowler was jailed without bond earlier this year for missing a court date in the case. She was released at the end of May after serving four months and promising to appear for future court dates.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.

PREVIOUS CONTENT:

 

Cox Media Group

0

Most Read