A Pennsylvania woman who spent two days in prison for passing out on her son and suffocating him while drunk and high on marijuana is in trouble again — this time for endangering another child she was babysitting, police say.
Arissa Ward, 32, allegedly let a 2-year-old boy she was supposed to be watching wander out of her house and into the middle of a road, where he was found wandering around with "no socks and no shoes" while it was 37 degrees outside, according to a criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
"He was cold to the touch due to the temperature," the affidavit says.
Pennsylvania State Police tell Law&Crime that the child was "found in the middle of the road" on W. Main Street in Windsor on Tuesday morning around 8 a.m. by a passerby who contacted PSP. An investigation "determined the young child's babysitter, Arissa Ward, had fallen asleep and the child had gotten out of the house," according to PSP officials.
Troopers canvassed the surrounding area and notified Children and Youth Services, who told police "to check Arissa Ward," who lived in the area and had been previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment for suffocating her 2-month-old son while she was intoxicated, according to court records and local reports.
After troopers knocked on Ward's door, she opened it and allegedly said, "I'm babysitting and I just woke up. What is going on?" Troopers asked if she was "missing a kid," to which she replied, "Yes, yes, but he is not mine," according to the affidavit.
"[The boy's mom] dropped him off with me this morning," Ward allegedly told the troopers. "He's a little boy, he's 2 … with blonde curly hair."
The troopers explained to Ward that the child had been with police for two hours and asked "for an explanation," per the affidavit.
"My kids and I were asleep," Ward allegedly replied. "I didn't know he opened up my door."
Ward claimed she was sleeping in her second-floor bedroom with her own two kids and her dog when the boy's mother dropped him off around 6:30 a.m., which the mom confirmed with police in an interview.
"[The mother] stated the front door was unlocked, which is not common," according to the affidavit. "She walked in the residence and took [the boy] upstairs to Ward's bedroom, which the door was open. [The mother] stated Ward was asleep and she had to wake her up."
The mother then placed her son in the bed with Ward, and Ward immediately fell asleep and had to be woken up again, Law & Crime reported, citing court documents. She told law enforcement that she did not close the bedroom door behind her, but did close the front door when she left.
Read more in linkWard began texting the mom around 9:19 a.m., per the affidavit, and allegedly said, "Good morning babe!! Whatcha doin. B— where is you." The mom responded and said, "Hey girl!!! im at work lol. i was a little late today hope i dont get into trouble lol," according to police.
About 30 minutes later, Ward allegedly sends a text saying, "Where's [the boy]???"
This led to the mom calling Ward five times, with each call going to voicemail, the affidavit alleges. The woman received a call from police around 10 a.m. saying her child was in police custody after being found outside, per the affidavit.
Little boy found wandering in road with no shoes or socks, babysitter has a dark past: DA
A Pennsylvania woman who got handed just two days in prison for suffocating her son is in trouble again — this time for endangering another child while she was babysitting them, police say.
In December 2016, after a night of drinking with her partner, Ward fell asleep on a couch next to her baby. The child died of asphyxiation and had marijuana in his system.
Pleading no-contest to a manslaughter charge, Ward was supposed to receive a three-month minimum sentence. However, Judge William T. Tully instead sentenced her to only two days and then house arrest, citing her living daughter, who was 3 years old at the time, according to Penn Live Patriot News.
"I'm going to give you the opportunity to do a little bit of penance. This will be a chance to prove yourself," Tully told Ward. "You have got to put yourself back together. Your daughter doesn't need a semi-mom. She needs a whole mom."
Mom who got 2-day sentence after killing baby while high arrested for endangering someone else's child
Pennsylvania mother Arissa Ward faces felony child endangerment charges after a toddler she was babysitting was allegedly found wandering in the road.
