Sharpsburg woman faces child endangerment charges after police discover hoarder conditions

A hoarding situation in Sharpsburg has left a woman facing charges of child welfare endangerment and risking a catastrophe, among others.

Police are seeking the public’s help in finding Dawn Marie Ecker, 51, who fled from a welfare check at her apartment at 902 Penn St.

Borough police were called Aug. 26 to assist Allegheny County’s child protective services in checking on Ecker’s 12-year-old daughter.

“They got a report that the child was living in deplorable conditions, and I can say it was the worst hoarding condition we’ve ever seen in the borough,” Officer Brian Hoebel said.

“There were cat feces and vermin and piles of stuff in every room.”

The child appeared to be physically unharmed and was checked at the scene by EMS and representatives from the county Office of Children, Youth and Families, Hoebel said.

“Thankfully, the girl was fine, as she had not spent much time at that house and was only back with her mother for school,” he said.

Fox Chapel Area School District began class Aug. 24.

The girl was previously living with family members. After the incident, she was placed in the care of CYF.

Hoebel said the condition of the home was such that he had to fight his way through piles of clothes and other items to get to each room.

Ecker fled the scene but “is known to be in the company of her paramour who is also under investigation,” Hoebel said.

She faces additional charges of reckless endangerment and multiple drug offenses.

The hoarding conditions resulted in Ecker’s apartment being condemned by the borough’s code enforcement officer and fire chief.

The property owner of the multi-unit apartment building has removed all items from the home and is in the process of sanitizing it.