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Heather Ordaz, 41, of the 100 block of B Lane in Willow Farms Trailer Park in Swatara Township has been charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor for Endangering the Welfare of Children, on Sunday, Oct. 27, according to her court docket.
The Lower Swatara Police were called to Ordaz's home for a tip about alleged Child Abuse or Neglect, according to the affidavit of probable cause. An older child had gone missing, the youngest, at just 2 years old was seen walking alone down the street, and the 6-year-old told a concerned adult they were very hungry anafter supposedly coming home from a friend's house but when later asked by the officers about the friend the child said nothing about the visit, as detailed in the affidavit.
Officers arrived at the home around 2:22 p.m. to find the floor covered in dog feces, the home wreaking of ammonia, the toddler's diaper was full, the bathroom toilet was unusable, the tub and sink were filled with garbage, and the children were dirt, and wore stained clothing, the police noted in the affidavit. Several half-filled pill bottles were "within easy reach" of the kids.
Dauphin County Children and Youth Services also responded to the scene and took protective custody of all the children who were 8, 6, 4, and 2 years old, as detailed in the affidavit.
Ordaz's preliminary hearing was held the night of her arrest before Magisterial District Judge Paul T. Zozos. Bail was set at $5,000 and she has been remanded to the Dauphin County Prison, according to her court docket..
Her preliminary hearing has been scheduled before Judge Michael J. Smith at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
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