Fulton Police Arrest Woman for Pushing Grandchildren into Oswego River

FULTON – On 02/20/23, the City of Fulton Police were dispatched to an address in the City to investigate a
possible child abuse. Officers met with a female at the address and her two children, who were 5 and 3
years old.

The children had reported to their mother that their maternal grandmother had pushed them
into the Oswego River off from S. First St. After getting the children home and warming them, the
mother contacted 911 for police assistance.

Police later located the grandmother and she confessed to pushing the children into the river, although she denied doing it with the intention of harming them.

The investigation also revealed that the water temperature was 35.8 degrees Fahrenheit and the
children had been fully submerged in the water before being pulled out by the grandmother. As a result
of the investigation, the grandmother was arrested in connection with the case.

She is identified as: Heather M. Smith, 46 years old, of Fulton
Charges: 2 counts of Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree – Class D Felony
2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child – Class A Misdemeanor
Smith was transported to the Oswego County Jail, where she was arraigned at Centralized
Arraignment. Due to New York State Bail Reform provisions, the charges are considered non-qualifying
offenses and the Judge had to release Smith on her own recognizance.

The children were evaluated by EMS personnel at their home, and showed no signs of obvious injury, and were not transported to the hospital.  They are in the care of their mother now.

CPS was contacted and are assisting in the investigation as it continues.

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