State Police: Woman Leaves 2 Children Alone For Hours In 'Deplorable Conditions'
HUNKER Pa. (KDKA) - A Westmoreland County woman is facing charges for allegedly leaving her two children alone in "deplorable conditions" for hours.
State Police say they arrived at the Huntingdon Village apartments in Hunker, Westmoreland County just after 10:30 p.m. Friday night after a caller reported a crying toddler knocking on the door.
According to the criminal complaint, the door was unlocked and open when police arrived. They knocked, and no one answered. As they stepped inside the apartment, they discovered what they described as "deplorable conditions."
Police also discovered the oven was set to 450 degrees and running as a way to heat the apartment. The thermostat reportedly read 80 degrees.
"It was sweltering hot in there ... A very sad situation these kids were left in," Steve Limani with the Pennsylvania State Police said.
A child was found sleeping on the carpet next to a pile of toys, and police say the child only had a pillow and blanket -- no shirt.
State Police say they also found another child in a crib "with dried vomit around the mouth and dirty clothes." To get to the child, police say they had to wade through "debris."
The criminal complaint says the children — ages 4 and 1 — were "visibly hungry and the diaper was dirty and needed changed." They called Children and Youth Services and an emergency custody order for the children was put into effect.
The children are with their grandmother.
"He noticed how gross and disgusting and how unlivable this place was. ... debris and toys and junk all throughout the place," Limani said.
About 8 hours later, police say they received a call from the mother, 24-year-old Danielle Thompson, who was reporting her children missing. She told police that she had gone to work and arrived home at about 6:15 a.m. Saturday.
"It is unbelievable that someone would leave their children, a 1- and 4-year-old, at home and contact us eight hours later, saying, 'I have no idea where my children are. Someone must have taken them.' Here they are home alone," Limani said.
Amber Bowser was in her living room on Friday night when she heard horrible sounds coming from Thompson's place.
Bowser said she opened her door and heard banging on her door from inside the apartment. She believed it was coming from the 4-year-old boy, who was crying and screaming what sounded like, 'Mom.'
Bowser then called the police.
Thompson is facing two felonies and other charges.
