Vandergrift, PA – A Pennsylvania mother and grandmother are facing multiple felony child endangerment charges after authorities discovered four children living in deplorable conditions with no running water, broken furniture, and floors covered in feces and urine.
Police Discover Disturbing Scene During Welfare Check
On July 28, Vandergrift Borough police in Westmoreland County arrived at a residence following a report of a fight. Upon entry, officers were overwhelmed by a foul odor and had to avoid stepping on large feces droppings, rotten food, and pooled urine throughout the home, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE.
Four children, ages 9 to 16, were inside. The eldest child told police that their mother, Heidi Lynn Beer, 35, had not been home in days. Officers also noted that the shower spigot was broken, water had not been on for a long time, and the children were sleeping on deflated air mattresses.
Grandmother Aware of Conditions but Took No Action
Police learned that the children’s grandmother, Leslie Ann Keller, 69, lived about a mile away and was fully aware of the lack of food and water in the home. One child told officers that Keller hadn’t been inside the house for months because it was “too gross.” Keller allegedly confirmed that the children often had to fill empty cat litter containers with water from her home due to the lack of running water.
When Keller tried to chastise the 16-year-old for not cleaning, an officer reportedly told her it was not the children’s responsibility to clean up what was described as an “absolute disgrace of a mess.”
Mother Allegedly Stayed with Boyfriend Who Didn’t Want the Kids
Investigators said Beer had been staying with her boyfriend in Pittsburgh, about a 50-minute drive away. According to police, the boyfriend told Beer to leave the children behind because he could “give her a new and better life without them” and was also allegedly abusive to the children.
Beer faces five felony counts of endangering the welfare of children, five misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of making a false report. She is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 12.
Keller is also charged with five felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and has a preliminary hearing set for September 9. It is unclear if she is in custody. The children are now in the care of other family members.
Community Shock and Child Welfare Response
Local residents expressed outrage over the case, saying it highlights the need for stronger child welfare oversight in rural areas. Authorities have not disclosed whether the family had any prior involvement with social services, but the case remains under investigation.
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