Defense attorney: 2 toddlers who drowned in Roseville climbed through space under pool’s gate
A Roseville foster mother accused in the drowning deaths of two twin toddlers was in the bathroom when the boys climbed through an opening under a gate, which a defense attorney said “should have never been constructed the way it was.”
The comments came as Schitara Page, 37, appeared Wednesday in Placer Superior Court. Dressed in red jail clothing, Page had minimal reaction during her arraignment, but did close her eyes when Judge Angus Saint-Evens read the charges.
She pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of child abuse or endangering children leading to great bodily injury or death in the deaths of Sincere and Legend Strong, 2, last October. The complaint says the twin boys were 22 months old and died Oct. 9 after they were found unresponsive by Roseville police.
Defense attorney Dionne Choyce, arguing in favor of releasing his client on her own recognizance, added there’s “information” indicating there were things that were missed during the home or pool’s construction. There should’ve been an alert or notification system, but he said his client did not intend to cause harm.
“My client maintains her innocence,” Choyce said.
But Deputy District Attorney Kalin Everett said Page adopted a position of trust to take care of vulnerable toddlers and ensure a safe environment. But Page did not, and was not watching the boys when they landed in the pool, Everett said.
Saint-Evens ruled Page can be released from custody, but she was ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor. She was also ordered to stay away minors, with the exception of her own 16-year-old son, Saint-Evens said.
The decision to release Page prompted two victim family members to burst outside of court and began talking very loudly with a Placer County District Attorney’s victim advocate. The family members declined to comment.
Alize Strong, the biological mother, was not present at the hearing but submitted a statement to the prosecutor to be read aloud. Strong sought the judge to hold Page without bail in custody because her family has been suffering since the day of the incident — “one of the worst days” of her life.
“I was getting myself together to bring them home and I never got to do that thanks to Ms. Page’s actions,” she wrote . “Nor, did I get a chance to say goodbye.”
Page, who is a relative of the Strong boys’ father, adopted the children due to abuse and neglect, Choyce said. The twins were malnourished and had medical conditions that needed to be addressed, he said.
“She helped address all those issues,” he said. “Obviously, this is a sad situation to occur.”
Page worked for the California Department of Social Services and as a security guard, Choyce said.
The attorneys are scheduled to return July 18 for the next court hearing.
