Three people are facing felony child endangerment charges after Pennsylvania State Police say a 5-year-old boy was found naked and walking in the middle of a Lebanon County road Friday morning.
Troopers from the Jonestown station were called to the area of Quarry Road and South Lancaster Street in Swatara Township around 7:29 a.m. on July 10.
According to police, several Good Samaritans stopped and remained with the child until troopers and emergency medical personnel arrived. The boy was transported to WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital for a medical evaluation.
Investigators identified a nearby home on North Poplar Street as the residence from which the child had escaped.
Police described hoarding conditions throughout the home, including trash, extensive clutter and hundreds of flies. Troopers said there was limited space to move through portions of the residence.
Inside the child’s bedroom, investigators allegedly found a baby gate attached to the outside of the doorway with zip ties and duct tape. Police said wooden boards had also been drilled into the exterior of the door frame above the gate to prevent the child from leaving the room.
Feces was allegedly smeared on the bedroom walls and window, while food, trash and toys were scattered throughout the room. Police also reported finding a damaged bed and hundreds of flies inside the bedroom and elsewhere in the home.
Police identified those charged as Jade Destiny Shuey, 21; Stephanie Ann Schaffner, 42; and Tucker Flyn Heagy, 20.
Each is charged with one third-degree felony count of endangering the welfare of children.
Court records show the three were scheduled for preliminary arraignment Saturday morning before Magisterial District Judge David R. Warner Jr.
Bail was set at $500,000 each for Shuey and Schaffner. Heagy’s bail was set at $250,000.
All three were committed to Lebanon County Prison after they were unable to post bail.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for 8 a.m. July 23 in the Lebanon County Magisterial District Judge Central Courtroom before Magisterial District Judge Kim R. Wolfe.