Police: East Huntingdon woman abandoned kids, locked them out in cold, rain

An East Huntingdon woman remained in the county jail Monday after state police accused her of abandoning her children for hours Friday before returning home “intoxicated” and then locking them outside in the cold and rain.

Donna Louise DeAugustine, 37, is charged with multiple child endangerment and corruption charges. Murrysville District Judge Charles R. Conway on Saturday declined to set bail. “No condition, or combination of conditions will ensure the safety of the victims or community,” Conway wrote, according to court dockets.

The oldest child, 14, arrived at the Reed Circle home from school about 3 p.m. and found DeAugustine was not there, Trooper Steven Papuga reported. About an hour later, police said the teenager went to retrieve children ages 7 and 8 at the bus stop. An 11-year-old also returned home from school unsupervised.

“(DeAugustine) came home at approximately 7 p.m., and came stumbling into the residence. (Witnesses) related (DeAugustine) was so intoxicated that she even fell over as she was walking inside of the residence,” Papuga wrote in court documents.

An argument between DeAugustine and the children ensued, Papuga reported, with the 11-year-old forwarding an audio recording of the woman yelling to a relative, who contacted police.

“Although it was cold and rainy outside, (DeAugustine) told all of her children to leave the house,” Papuga said.

The children sought help at a neighbor’s house, where Papuga found and interviewed them.

Papuga said neighbors reported the children have come to their “front door numerous times at all hours of the day asking for help.”

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Feb. 5 before East Huntingdon District Judge Charles Moore.