Watch CBS News

Judge Nixes Most Charges Against Mom Of Long-Missing Twins

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A judge has thrown out most charges against a Pennsylvania woman accused of endangering and concealing the whereabouts of her twins, who haven't been seen in more than 10 years.

Allegheny County Judge Thomas Flaherty late Wednesday let stand a charge of unsworn falsification, which alleges 48-year-old Patricia Fowler made misleading statements to police investigating the whereabouts of the twins last year.

But the judge found there's insufficient evidence the Penn Hills woman obstructed justice, concealed the children's whereabouts from their incarcerated father or endangered them.

A detective said in October he believed Ivon and Inisha, a boy and girl who would be about 19 now, were dead.

Fowler remains jailed on charges she collected nearly $50,000 in welfare benefits for the twins despite having not seen them for years.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.