WINSLOW TWP., Pa. (EYT) — State police charged a Jefferson County woman with child endangerment after finding two young children outside a residence without proper clothing in cold weather while she was unconscious inside, according to a criminal complaint.
Court records show that Pennsylvania State Police in DuBois filed the following charges against Christina Marie Snyder, 33, of Reynoldsville, on March 31:
- Endangering the Welfare of Children, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
- Disorderly Conduct Harzardous/Physical Offense, Summary (two counts)
Trooper Michael Stutsman responded to a home on Pennsylvania Avenue in Winslow Township at 10:24 a.m. on February 28 after a report of two young children outside alone. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the children, ages 2 and 4, were playing in a mud puddle near the road. They were not wearing coats or shoes, and the younger child was not wearing pants.
The criminal complaint said the temperature was approximately 37 degrees with winds between 10 and 20 miles per hour. The children were covered in mud and their hair was matted. The younger child wore a diaper that appeared heavily soiled and unclean, police said.
The trooper entered the home after knocking and found Snyder unconscious on a couch. The officer had to physically touch her shoulder and shout to wake her, the complaint said. The trooper noted that Snyder appeared disoriented and agitated once she woke.
Snyder told police she would test positive for cocaine, methamphetamine, suboxone, and marijuana, according to the affidavit. She allegedly admitted to recent drug use.
Officers described the home conditions as “deplorable.” The affidavit stated the floors and stairs were covered in garbage, food, and debris. One child’s bed was covered in items to the point that it was unusable, according to police.
The children were taken into protective custody and released to Jefferson County Children and Youth Services.
Snyder is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 28 in front of Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana.
