Young children left alone in apartment

Williamsport, Pa. — A Williamsport mother left her two small children home alone while she visited a relative, police day.

Yahnea Shaidea Jordan, 26, admitted to leaving the children at an apartment in the 600 block of Lycoming Street on Aug. 6, Williamsport Police Officer Andrew Stevens said.

The children were discovered by the Timberland Apartment's maintenance man, who called police just before 4 p.m. after discovering a 1 year old and an autistic 3-year-old child alone in the apartment. Jordan had gone to the maintenance department earlier that day to request an extra key for her apartment. When the man arrived at the apartment with the key and knocked, two little children came to the window, police say.

After it became clear no adults were present, the maintenance man used the key to get into the apartment and check on the toddlers before calling police. Jordan reportedly did not come back home for nearly an hour after leaving her children.

When police questioned her, she said she wanted to visit a cousin, but didn't want to take the children because it was stormy outside, arrest papers say.

"It was visibly sunny and hot out” on a video of the apartment investigators viewed, Stevens noted.

Jordan is being charged with third-degree felony endangering the welfare of children. She is free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Docket sheet