A Pennsylvania mother faces felony charges after her 4-year-old autistic son was found dead on the floor of their home, having been left there for more than 24 hours. Amie Marie Ruleman called 911 on April 7, initially claiming she thought the boy was sleeping. Authorities say medical evidence and her revised account point to severe neglect.
Waynesboro police responded to a 911 call shortly after 1 p.m. on April 7 at a home in the 500 block of Pratt Court, where they pronounced Amie Marie Ruleman's 4-year-old nonverbal autistic son dead at the scene. The boy appeared to have been deceased for some time, according to investigators. Ruleman told the dispatcher she found him kneeling with his hand on a chair around 11 a.m., assuming he was asleep, but later found him unresponsive and not breathing about an hour afterward. She mentioned giving him Tylenol that morning after he had been sick with stomach issues and vomiting since Easter Sunday, and noted no other health conditions aside from autism. Authorities announced her arrest this week on one count of felony endangering the welfare of a child. Ruleman later revised her timeline, stating she saw the boy kneeling around 4 a.m., went back to bed without checking, later took a photo and sent it to a relative, spent over an hour in the bathroom, and only then called 911 when he felt cold. The Franklin County coroner determined he had been dead for more than 24 hours and weighed just 25 pounds—well below the average of 35 pounds for his age—showing signs of malnourishment. The home was in disarray with accessible drug paraphernalia, and a friend who visited on Easter Sunday urged medical care for the visibly ill child, which Ruleman ignored. She admitted missing at least five doctor appointments for him over two years while seeking care for herself, and described his diet as mostly chips, chicken nuggets, and mini pancakes, adding that he sometimes ate his clothing. Prosecutors cited these factors, including timeline inconsistencies and her admissions, as probable cause that her neglect contributed to his condition. An autopsy is scheduled this week to determine the official cause of death. Ruleman is held at Franklin County Prison on $1 million bond, with a preliminary hearing set for April 21.