A Pennsylvania mother, previously found guilty of accidentally causing her infant son’s death while under the influence, has been arrested again, this time for endangering another child.
Alyssa Ward, 32, faces charges of child endangerment after a 2-year-old she was babysitting was discovered wandering alone on a busy road without any shoes or socks, according to a spokesperson from the Pennsylvania State Police.
“About 8 a.m. on Tuesday, we got a report about a young child found in the middle of W. Main Street in Windsor, York County,” the spokesperson noted.
“The investigation showed that the child had left the house while Ward fell asleep. A passerby found him in the road and contacted police. He was without shoes,” the spokesperson added.
An affidavit revealed that the child commented on how “cold” it felt outside. It’s unsettling to think about how easily things could have gone wrong.
The boy’s mother had dropped him off at Ward’s house around 6:30 a.m. , and described finding the front door unlocked, which struck her as strange. Upon entering the home, she went upstairs and found Ward in bed, still asleep.
Ward had apparently texted her mother earlier that morning, asking what she was doing. Her mother, replying from work, seemed a bit amused but concerned about being late. About half an hour later, Ward texted her mother again, asking about the child’s whereabouts, which leads to the question—what was going through her mind?
After multiple attempts to call Ward went unanswered, the police contacted the mother with the news that her son had been found safe.
When officers arrived at the home, Ward claimed not to understand what was wrong. As they spoke with her, she even mentioned that the child in question was “not mine.” How confusing must that have been for everyone involved.
In the past, Ward had a troubling history. Following her first conviction for manslaughter in 2016—after she accidentally choked her infant son due to neglect while intoxicated—she had served only a brief period before being placed under house arrest. It’s alarming to think how quickly situations can escalate, especially with a young child involved.
Although she posted bail following the recent charges, she is set to appear in court on May 5. It’s a sad situation, really. One can only hope it leads to better decisions in the future.
