Effort woman charged with endangering welfare of children

An Effort woman is scheduled to appear in court on charges of endangering the welfare of her children.

Lydia Breckenridge, 25, of the 1300 block of Route 209, also faces two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Brandon King of the Pennsylvania State Police:

At 8:35 a.m. Sept. 7, King was dispatched to locate a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old in Chestnuthill Township.

The children walked into a neighboring residence in the township which they did not know.

Both children arrived at the neighboring residence with no shoes. The boy had a diaper on, and the girl had a bottle of melatonin, a sleeping aid supplement.

Their mother, Breckenridge, arrived on foot at the neighboring residence and said she was sleeping and woke up to notice her two children were not in bed with her.

Breckenridge said her front door was left unlocked and the children left in an unknown direction.

When questioned about the melatonin, Breckenridge said she gives her daughter a half a pill due to her not sleeping at night.

Breckenridge was the only adult at the residence at the time of this incident.

There have been previous similar incidents at this residence.

The children did not appear to be harmed.

Children and Youth were notified and arrived on scene.

Breckenridge remains free in lieu of $5,000 unsecured bail.

Breckenridge is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Friday before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.