Jun 10, 2008 By Josh Krysak 2 min read

State police, in conjunction with the Fayette County District Attorney, will file multiple charges against an unidentified person in connection with the apparent drowning of a 2-year-old Belle Vernon boy. Donovan Barksdale died after he apparently fell into a swimming pool when he wandered away from a family picnic at a church in Perry Township Sunday afternoon.

Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco said Barksdale of Branthoover Street was pronounced dead at 2:22 p.m. Sunday at Monongahela Valley Hospital.

According to Trooper Craig M. Yauch, charges for recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child will be filed in connection with the case at a later date before Magisterial District Judge Dwight K. Shaner.

Police have not identified the person to be charged in the case.

Yauch said the incident occurred at 1:12 p.m., when Barksdale allegedly wandered away from a group of children at the picnic at the First Christian Church on Hilltop Road in Wickhaven.

The boy walked about 310 feet to a neighbor’s home where he climbed onto a deck and then fell into a swimming pool, Yauch said.

Shortly afterward, members of his family and the church began to search the area for Barksdale.

He was found a short time later unresponsive in the pool.

Emergency personnel from Southwest Ambulance responded to the scene and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was started at the scene.

“No child should be wandering around a church party – or any party for that matter,” District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said Monday.The incident remains under investigation by the state police in Belle Vernon and the coroner’s office.

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