Mom charged after police say she moved with her boyfriend, left child with no heat, water
A Pennsylvania mother has been arrested for allegedly moving to New Jersey and leaving her child behind, according to the Manheim Township Police Department.
The woman is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Police responded to a welfare check on Jan. 12 and found the child living alone.
According to police, the child was left in a house with no heat aside from a space heater in their room. The house also had no running water, and the gas was shut off. The house was cluttered and contained spoiled and rotten food.
However, when police asked the child about their daily meal consumption, the child confirmed they had access to food. Police also say the woman would sometimes send money to them via the mobile payment service application, CashApp.
A relative reported that they took the child to the grocery store and brought them to their home to shower and wash clothes, police said.
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Woman leaves child behind to move in with boyfriend in another state, police say
According to police, the child told police their mother moved to New Jersey one month ago to live with her boyfriend and left them behind.
The child said their mother returned on occasion, but they didn't know when.
Police said the child told them they sometimes attended school, but it was difficult to wake up in the morning since they were alone.
A cat and two dogs were also left in the home that the child was responsible for taking care of, police said.
Police say the woman was located and taken into custody by the Pennsville Township Police Department in New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 27 and is currently being detained in the Salem County Correctional Facility.
Arrangements are being made for her extradition, but the woman has not been arraigned at this time.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mother charged with child endangerment in Manheim Township: Police
