Four foster children try to flee alleged abuse at Jeannette home

By Paul Paterra/TRIBUNE-REVIEW

August 28, 2009

Four children — ages 9, 7, 5 and 2 — tried to escape alleged mistreatment at their foster home in Jeannette by hitching a ride back home to Pittsburgh.

The four brothers were trying to wave down cars on Harrison Avenue shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, police said.

"A motorist saw the four boys hitchhiking and called police," said police Chief Jeff Stahl.

Their foster parents, sisters Shirley Baker, 72, and Sharon F. Baker, 62, of 1520 Harrison Ave. were each charged Thursday with four counts of endangering the welfare of children.

The boys told police they climbed a chain-link fence to get away. One boy said they were trying to get to back to Pittsburgh because they were hungry and thirsty after being locked out of the house for most of the day, according to a criminal complaint.

The 2-year-old, who was barefoot, had bruises on his back and wore a dirty diaper, the complaint said.

"One of the boys said his brother had been hit by the foster parents," Stahl said. "That boy had black-and-blue marks on his back. He also said they were being denied food and water."

Officers Justin Scalzo of Jeannette police and August Deguffroy of the Penn Township department rescued the boys from the roadway.

"Why do you have four young children on the roadway?" Scalzo said. "How do you not know they are not in your house?"

Stahl and Scalzo said calls were made to the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau; Allegheny County Children, Youth and Family Services; and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center, which placed the boys.

The officers said the boys were stranded at the Jeannette police station for about six hours until custody was provided at 11:50 p.m. Two boys went to separate foster homes in Jeannette, Stahl said. The other two went with a foster care supervisor.

"We got no help from these children's service agencies at all," Stahl said. "We're not a baby-sitting service here."

Scalzo said his wife brought fresh diapers and food for the boys.

"I was frustrated with all three agencies," Scalzo said. "I felt it needed immediate action to take those kids to safety."

Shara Saveikis, director of Westmoreland County Children's Bureau, said she could not comment on whether her department was involved with the case, citing laws providing confidentiality to her clients.

She said there are three options in such a situation under the state Child Protective Services Law.

"Police can take protective custody. Generally police don't, but they have the ability to do so," Saveikis said. "You can get a verbal court order from a judge within the jurisdiction (the incident) occurred for temporary custody, or medical personnel can take protective custody for up to 24 hours."

Kathleen Burk, senior communications manager for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, said the matter is under investigation.

"Allegheny County CYS is currently investigating why the contracted provider did not respond to the Jeannette police in a timely matter," Burk said. "We are investigating the matter fully, but we are forbidden by child protection laws to address the matter directly."

The Three Rivers American Indian Center in Dorseyville did not return a telephone call seeking comment.