Cops: Infant, toddler removed from squalid conditions in Avonmore home

An infant boy and his 18-month-old sister were removed from an Avonmore mobile home Monday after troopers said they found squalid living conditions and arrested the children’s mother and her boyfriend.

Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak denied bond for Kaitlyn D. Thorpe, 20, of Avonmore, and Timothy L. McMunn, 33, of New Alexandria, during their arraignments Tuesday on multiple criminal charges of endangering the welfare of children, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless endangerment.

State police went to the Maple Terrace Lane residence about 9:30 p.m. Monday after receiving a tip about poor conditions there, according to Trooper Stephanie Smith. Smith wrote in court documents that the tipster had dropped off clothes for the 1-month-old boy and left concerned about the safety of both children.

The woman told Smith that the toddler didn’t want her to leave and Thorpe allowed her to take the child until Wednesday, according to the court documents. Smith said the apartment didn’t have basic necessities for children such as bottles, milk, diapers and wipes. Troopers reported in court documents that neither child was dressed appropriately for the cold weather.

Smith said McMunn and Thorpe were using an open oven set to 400 degrees as a source of heat in the residence, and suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were close to the children. Police said McMunn appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine when troopers arrived.

Thorpe told police “that she didn’t have money to buy any (necessities) and had been out of diapers for a day. In addition, there was old food in pans on the stovetop, in the sink and counters … and there was also a sippy cup with milk that had soured on the counter,” Smith wrote in the court documents.

Police also found several knives, an electric floor heater, a 5-gallon container filled with cigarette butts and a rifle on a makeshift nightstand near a baby rocker in the bedroom, according to Smith.

The incident was relayed to Westmoreland County Children and Youth Services and both children were taken from Thorpe’s custody, police said.