A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested after her 4-year-old son, who had autism, was found dead inside their home, according to police.
Child Found Unresponsive
Authorities in Waynesboro say 40-year-old Amie Ruleman called police Tuesday, reporting that her son was unconscious and not breathing.
When officers arrived, they discovered the child was already deceased.
Timeline Raises Concerns
Charging documents allege Ruleman told investigators she first noticed her son kneeling in the same position around 4 a.m. when she briefly woke up.
She said when she woke again around 11:30 a.m., the child had not moved. According to police, she took a photo of him in that position and sent it to a family member.
It wasn’t until around 12:35 p.m., when she attempted to wake him and found his body cold, that she contacted authorities.
Medical Findings
The coroner later determined the child had been dead for approximately 24 hours by the time police arrived.
Charges Filed
Ruleman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Court records do not yet show whether she has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The case remains under investigation.
Resources for Reporting Abuse
Officials remind the public that suspected child abuse can be reported to the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or online at childhelp.org. The service is available 24/7 and offers confidential support in multiple languages.
