Mom Lied About Her Kids' Drowning To Cover Up Back Yard Marijuana Farm

[Anthony]

A San Diego-area woman was arrested following a four month investigation into the drowning deaths of her two young children.
Authorities determined Tassie Behrens lied to police about where she found her two children submerged in water on May 13.
Behrens, 26, was sleeping on the couch of the La Mesa home of a male companion on May 13 when her two children, 16-month-old Harley Bradford and 2-year-old Jason Bradford Jr., drowned in the backyard pool. When Behrens awoke to find her toddlers face down in the pool, she and her friend chose to make the 15-minute drive to a local fire station rather than call 9-1-1, according to sources.
Medics tried in vain to revive them there before taking them to Sharp Grossmont Hospital, where Harley was pronounced dead. Jason was transferred to Rady Children's Hospital, where he died shortly before 11:30 p.m., Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said.
When being questioned at the police station, Behrens told the officers her kids drowned at a local mobile home park. The Medical Examiner indicated on records he believed Behrens lied; “It was like the mother fabricated the incident location to divert law enforcement away from illegal activity,†the medical examiner’s office wrote in its report.
"She said she initially gave the wrong location because she didn't want her friend who lives at the residence to get in trouble for not having a fence around the pool," Giannantonio said.
Police went to the Sunset Ave. home of Larry Dangelo, 44, where the children had actually drowned, they discovered marijuana plants and growing equipment.
Dangelo was arrested for his role in the drug operation, but police waited for Harley and Jason’s autopsy reports before they filed charges against Behrens.
Behrens has several charges that include felony child abuse, possession of marijuana and possession and sale of a controlled substance.
“She allowed the children to be in a situation where they would likely to be gravely injured or killed,†Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said. “That’s basically what the charges are for.â€
Tassie Behrens is going to be arraigned on Monday.