Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania – A Pennsylvania mother who abandoned her children in a dangerous, unsanitary home while staying with her boyfriend has been sentenced to jail time and probation, with a court also ordering her to spend part of her punishment inside the same house where the neglect occurred.
Court hands down sentence tied to the home at the center of the case
Heidi Beer, 35, was sentenced to three to 23 months in prison, followed by three years of probation, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. In a condition drawing widespread attention, Beer must also complete six months of electronic monitoring in the very home authorities described as unlivable.
The sentence follows Beer’s guilty plea to endangering the welfare of children as a parent or guardian, recklessly endangering another person, and making a false report, according to WTAE.
Police call reveals disturbing living conditions
The case began on July 28, when Vandergrift Borough police responded to a reported fight at a residence in Westmoreland County. Once officers entered the home, they discovered conditions far beyond what they had expected.
According to a criminal complaint, officers noted an overwhelming odor and said they had to avoid stepping on large feces droppings, with rotting food and pooled urine spread across the floors. Inside the house were four children between the ages of 9 and 16.
The oldest child told police that Beer had not been home for days.
Children left without water or basic necessities
Investigators reported that the children had no running water, and the shower spigot had been broken off.
“It was very obvious that water had not been on in a long time,” the affidavit stated.
The children were reportedly sleeping on deflated air mattresses, and officers observed holes in the ceilings throughout the home, further underscoring the unsafe conditions.
Mother stayed nearly an hour away with boyfriend
Authorities determined that Beer had been staying with her boyfriend in Pittsburgh, about a 50-minute drive away. According to police, Beer told investigators that her boyfriend had encouraged her to leave her children behind, claiming he could “give her a new and better life without them.”
Grandmother also charged in the case
Police say Beer was not the only adult aware of the situation. The children’s grandmother, Leslie Ann Keller, 69, lives about one mile away and allegedly knew the home had no food or water.
One of the children told officers Keller had not entered the house in months because it was “too gross.” Keller allegedly admitted the children would fill empty cat litter containers with water at her home because their own house lacked running water.
As officers escorted Keller through the residence, she reportedly scolded the 16-year-old girl for not cleaning the home. A responding officer intervened, telling Keller it was not the children’s responsibility to clean what he described as “this absolute disgrace of a mess.”
Keller has been charged with endangering the welfare of children as a parent or guardian and is currently awaiting formal arraignment.
Children’s safety remains the focus moving forward
Authorities have not released further details about the children’s current living arrangements, but officials emphasized that the case highlights the seriousness of parental neglect and the legal responsibility of guardians to provide safe, livable conditions.
Conclusion
The court’s decision to require Heidi Beer to spend part of her sentence inside the same home where her children were neglected serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of child endangerment. As legal proceedings continue for the children’s grandmother, the case remains a troubling example of how multiple adults failed to protect vulnerable minors.
If you have thoughts on this case or concerns about child welfare in your community, share your experiences in the comments below.
