Three Pennsylvania residents are facing criminal charges after authorities say a 5-year-old boy who was found wandering naked in the middle of a roadway led investigators to a home where he had allegedly been confined in a filthy bedroom secured with a baby gate, wooden boards, and zip ties.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Jade Shuey, 21, Stephanie Schaffner, 42, and Tucker Heagy, 20, have each been charged with endangering the welfare of a child. All three were arraigned and later taken to the Lebanon County Prison.
Child Discovered Alone in the Middle of the Road
The investigation began at approximately 7:30 a.m. on July 10, when state troopers responded to the intersection of Quarry Road and South Lancaster Street in Swatara Township, about 95 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Authorities said Good Samaritans found a 5-year-old boy walking naked in the middle of the roadway and contacted police.
Troopers took the child to a nearby hospital for evaluation while investigators worked to determine where he had come from.
Boy Had Reportedly Escaped From Nearby Residence
Police determined that the child had escaped from a nearby home on North Poplar Street.
When investigators entered the residence, they reported finding severe clutter throughout the house. According to police, the home contained large amounts of trash, hundreds of flies, and conditions consistent with hoarding that made it difficult to move through the rooms.
The bedroom was allegedly secured from the outside
Investigators focused on one bedroom that they identified as belonging to the child.
According to state police, a baby gate had been attached to the outside of the bedroom doorway and secured with numerous zip ties and duct tape.
Officers also found wooden boards fastened above the gate on the outside of the door frame, which investigators believe prevented the child from leaving the room.
Police Describe Unsanitary Bedroom
Inside the bedroom, investigators documented what they described as extremely unsanitary conditions.
According to police, officers found:
- Feces smeared on the walls.
- Feces on the bedroom window.
- A damaged bed covered with food.
- Trash is scattered across the floor.
- Hundreds of flies throughout the bedroom and residence.
- Children’s toys are spread around the room.
Authorities photographed and documented the conditions during their investigation.
Child Allegedly Confined for Most of the Day
According to investigators, Jade Shuey told police that the boy spent approximately 90 percent of his time inside the bedroom.
She allegedly stated that the child sometimes remained confined there for up to three consecutive days.
Police also said the child was reportedly fed through the baby gate while inside the room and was bathed about once a week, if at all.
Zip Ties Allegedly Removed Each Time Child Left Room
Investigators said Tucker Heagy told them that every time the child was allowed out of the bedroom, family members had to cut between five and ten zip ties to open the gate.
According to police, Heagy also said the household regularly purchased zip ties in bulk from a local hardware store because they used so many.
Three Defendants Remain in Custody
Following the investigation, Shuey, Schaffner, and Heagy were arrested and each charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
All three were booked into the Lebanon County Prison, where they remained in custody after being unable to post bail.
Authorities have not publicly explained the exact relationship each defendant has to the 5-year-old boy.
The defendants are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 23.
The investigation remains ongoing, and all three defendants are presumed innocent unless and until the allegations are proven in court.
