By Paul Peirce

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2013

State police in Indiana Tuesday charged the parents of a 13-month-old boy who drowned in a bathtub at home on Feb. 2.

District Attorney Patrick Dougherty said the toddler's mother, Tonya Auen Thomas, no age available, of White, is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of children in connection with the death of Ryden Wesley A. Thomas Jr.

The boy's father, Wesley Thomas, 34, is charged with endangering the welfare of children, Dougherty said.

Tonya Thomas told authorities that she performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her son after finding him face down in a bathtub in the family home on Roush Drive, authorities said on Feb. 3.

She could not revive the boy, and he was pronounced dead at 8:32 p.m. Feb. 2 in Indiana Regional Medical Center, White.

Coroner Michael Baker said preliminary autopsy results were consistent with drowning, and there was no evidence of other trauma or physical abuse.

No further details on the arrest were available Tuesday. Dougherty said he will join state police and the coroner Wednesday at a news conference at the courthouse in Indiana.

Baker said Ryden was in the tub with two siblings, ages 2 and 3. Tonya Thomas left the children for a few minutes while she attended to another matter, he said. Authorities did not say what she was doing.

Tonya Thomas contacted the Indiana County 911 center at 7:54 p.m. and performed CPR on Ryden until emergency medical personnel from Citizens Ambulance Service arrived, authorities said.

State police at Indiana said in a brief statement following the death that they were investigating the circumstances of the boy's drowning.

In addition to his parents, Ryden is survived by two brothers, Nevaeh G. and Aiden C. Thomas, at home; and two sisters, Alenah and Alyssia Thomas, both of New Alexandria.

Funeral services for Ryden were held Feb. 5 in Blairsville.

Paul Peirce is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com.

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