CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — The caretaker in Cumberland County charged earlier this year in the drowning death of a woman she was looking after pled guilty in court Wednesday.

According to court documents, Folake Sowami, 45, of Harrisburg, pled guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person whom she is responsible for.

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Involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering another person charges were dismissed, court docs show.

Charges were filed by Silver Spring Township Police in January in the death of Rosinha Pereira, 71, who drowned in a hot tub at her home. According to the charges, Sowami fell asleep while she was on duty, taking care of Pereira when she drowned.

Sowami was not allowed to sleep while she was working because her job required around-the-clock care, according to the charges. She was employed by Shadai Home Health Services.

The charges show that when police questioned Sowami about falling asleep, she denied it at first, but then stated that she “maybe dosed off.” She also gave different details in her story each time she was questioned.

There was a video recording that captured Pereira getting and falling into the in-ground hot tub before 1:50 a.m., and it wasn’t till just after 3:30 a.m. when, police say, they saw Sowami pull her out.

The coroner’s office ruled that Pereira died from freshwater drowning and the manner was ruled to be a homicide from neglect of a care-dependent person, the charges stated.

Sowami is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5, court docs show.

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