State had investigated parents

State had investigated parents

February 28, 2002

Elizabeth A. Kennedy

The Philadelphia Inquirer

A woman charged in the death of her 5-year-old adopted son was investigated by the state once before over a complaint that her Franklinville home was filthy and littered with animal feces.

But the April 2001 allegation against Heather G. Lindorff and her husband, James, was not substantiated, Division of Youth and Family Services spokesman Joseph Delmar said yesterday.

"When the caseworker did go out there, they saw no evidence of animal feces lying around," Delmar said.

Eight months later, one of the couple's six adopted children died of blunt head trauma while in the care of Mrs. Lindorff, 37.

She has been charged with murder.

She was being held yesterday in the Gloucester County Women's Facility in Clarksboro on $1 million bail.

Additional charges include child endangerment, child abuse and aggravated assault.

Her husband, 52, was charged with child abuse and released on $25000 bail.

Jacob Lindorff was pronounced dead at South Jersey Hospital-Newcomb in Vineland on Dec. 14, about an hour after police were called to the family's home.