Police: Mother of autistic son overdosed

SOMERSET – A borough woman was jailed Thursday after police said her 12-year-old autistic son found her under the influence of heroin.

Jennifer Renee Phillippi, 32, of the 600 block of South Ankeny Avenue, was charged with one felony count of endangering the welfare of children.

In a criminal complaint, police said they were called to the home for a person in cardiac arrest from a heroin overdose. 

Officers said they found a lethargic Phillippi sitting on the bathroom floor.

The woman was taken to Somerset Hospital for an evaluation after she reportedly told police she had snorted two bags of heroin.

A relative said she went to the home and found Phillippi unconscious. Phillippi's son told her, "Mommy is dead."

Somerset County Children and Youth Services was contacted and Phillippi's two children were placed with their grandmother. 

Police allege Phillippi also suffered a drug overdose in November.

She was arraigned by on-call District Judge Kenneth Johnson of Somerset and sent to Somerset County Jail after failing to post $20,000 bond.