HANOVER, Pa.–A York County grandmother is facing charges after police say they found her 3-year-old grandchild alone in the street last month. Investigators say this is the third time in less than a month where the child was found wandering unsupervised.
Lori Ann Knight, 45, of Hanover is charged with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9.
On June 19–an officer was dispatched to the area of Fourth and High Street in Hanover around 3:20 p.m. for a report of a toddler playing alone in a nearby parking lot.
The 3-year-old child was wearing nothing but a diaper, according to the criminal complaint and affidavit. After talking with neighbors, police discovered the child lives along High Street with Knight, the child’s grandmother.
Investigators said Knight is the guardian, since the child’s mother is incarcerated in South Carolina.
Officers attempted to contact Knight at her home, but could not get in touch with her, court documents state. Police then reached out to Children and Youth who advised investigators there was currently an open case against Knight.
Almost four hours after the child was found–police and Children and Youth were finally able to make contact with Knight at her home, according to court documents. Knight told investigators she was in the kitchen when her grandchild left the home unnoticed. She explained there was an alarm on the door to alert her when the door opens, but she turned it off, court documents state. Knight stated she was unaware the child left until he was returned.
Police say this was the third incident in less than a month the Hanover Borough Police Department responded to a call where the child left the home unsupervised.
On May 28 police responded to a similar incident where the child was found over half a mile away from Knight’s home.
