Indiana County Woman Facing Child Endangerment, Drug Charges

INDIANA COUNTY (KDKA) -- A woman in Indiana County is facing multiple charges after state police found her two young children alone in deplorable living conditions Monday night.

Jessica Short, 30, of Shelocta, Indiana County, is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment, and possession of drug paraphernalia after State Police said they found her two daughters, aged 6 and 8, home alone in her trailer.

Police went to the trailer after a neighbor complained that Short's boyfriend, 37-year old Gregory Japalucci, had left the trailer, and the two girls were all by themselves after Short went to work at a local bar. State Police said the trailer home was in filthy condition, and they found drug paraphernalia, indicating heroin use.

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Neighbor Pat McConnell told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "They are nice little kids, and to have to live in a deplorable situation like that, it's just not right."

McConnell said the girls were often seen around the neighborhood wandering by themselves.

Short is in the Indiana County Jail, being held on $10,000 bail. A warrant is out for the arrest of her boyfriend, on similar charges.