A Pennsylvania mother, Arissa Ward, who was previously convicted of accidentally killing her infant son while under the influence, has been arrested again for allegedly endangering another child [1]. Prosecutors charged the 32-year-old with felony child endangerment and misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person after a 2-year-old boy she was babysitting was found wandering in the middle of the road without shoes or socks, according to a spokesperson for Pennsylvania State Police [1].
The incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. in Windsor Borough, York County, when a passerby found the child and contacted police. Investigation revealed that Ward, the babysitter, had fallen asleep, allowing the child to leave the house. The boy was described as 'cold to the touch due to the temperature' when found [1].
Court documents indicate the boy's mother dropped him off at Ward's residence at approximately 6:30 a.m. and found Ward asleep, needing to be woken up. After placing her son in bed with Ward, the mother left, closing the front door but not the bedroom door. Ward later texted the mother inquiring about the child's whereabouts, and police eventually notified the mother that her son had been found [1].
When police questioned Ward, she admitted she was babysitting and had just woken up, confirming the child was not hers. Authorities contacted Children and Youth Services, who advised them to 'check Arissa Ward' due to her prior conviction, which involved spending two days in jail after suffocating her 2-month-old son while drunk and high [1].
CONCLUSION
Arissa Ward's arrest for child endangerment marks a repeat offense following her previous conviction related to her own infant's death. The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding child safety under her supervision, as noted by both law enforcement and child protective services.