Mother Faces Felony Charges After Baby Found in Refrigerator

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published November 1, 2016 4:30 am
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JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — A Jefferson County woman is facing felony child endangerment charges after police learned that the woman’s child was found in the refrigerator.

According to court documents, Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 24-year-old Patience Marie Carley, of Punxsutawney.

According to a criminal complaint, Punxsutawney Borough Police received a childline report in reference to a two-year-old female found on the second shelf of the refrigerator at her house.

The complaint indicates that police officers interviewed Carley’s relatives.

During the investigation, it was discovered that “on Thursday, October 13, 2016, Patience was at her house at 112 Clark Street with her twin two-year-olds. Patience called her mother for an air pump to pump up a bounce house she had bought for her kids. As she was waiting for her mother to come over, Patience went outside to have a cigarette while her twins were inside the house unsupervised. After her mother arrived, they went into the house. At that time, they could hear (the two-year-old) crying, but they could not figure out where she was. After going toward the sounds, they opened the refrigerator, and (she) was on the second shelf. They pulled (her) out of the refrigerator and got her warmed up. At that time, they felt (she) was going to be okay, so they went on with putting the bounce house together,” the complaint states.

This incident was later reported to “childline from a mandatory reporter that had heard what happened,” according to the complaint.

Punxsy Police interviewed Carley at the station. She stated that “she now realizes what she did was wrong and takes full responsibility as to what happened,” the complaint continues.

Based on the investigation, a criminal complaint was filed against Carley in District Judge Douglas Robert Chambers’s office.

She was arraigned at 8:55 p.m. on October 23, on a third-degree felony charge of Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense.

Carley is free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 29 in front of Judge Chambers.

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