Officer: Mother Of 3-Year-Old Found Wandering Seemed 'Annoyed By The Inconvenience'

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EAST HILLS (KDKA) -- A security officer says when he informed a mother her 3-year-old son had been found wandering by himself, she seemed unaware he was missing and "annoyed" rather than concerned.

Around 2 p.m. Wednesday, Andrea Hamilton told East Hills Security she let her 3-year-old son go in the backyard of their house on Wilner Drive to play on his tricycle.

The 3-year-old left the yard, which is not fenced in, and walked about a block away. He ended up knocking on the door of the East Hills housing plan's Family Center on East Hills Drive.

The boy was taken to the security office, which happens to be next door.

One of the security officers began walking through the plan, spotted an open door and knocked. Andrea Hamilton answered.

That was when the security officer asked if she was missing a child. She reportedly said "I don't know" and called the child's name. She described what the child was wearing, and the officer was able to determine the 3-year-old boy was Hamilton's son.

Officers say Hamilton was "completely unaware" her son was missing, and she seemed "annoyed about the inconvenience" and didn't seem panicked, upset or concerned.

Police say the security officer spoke with Hamilton almost 20 minutes after the child knocked on the door of the Family Center.

In the criminal complaint, the inside of Hamilton's house is described as "deplorable," with trash and clothing throughout the place. Kitchen cabinets were broken, as well as the oven, and there was little food in the fridge. Some of what was in there was rotten.

Officers also observed there were no baby gates or barriers blocking the steep steps in the house.

There were two other children in Hamilton's house, ages six and seven.

Pittsburgh Police got involved in the situation and took Hamilton into custody.

Hamilton is facing three counts of child endangerment. She was released on her own recognizance.