MENTOR, Ohio (WOIO) – A Mentor mother facing criminal charges after police said her three-year-old and eight-year-old daughters were found outside in the bitter cold, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Mentor Municipal Court Monday.
Laura Beitler, 36, is charged with two counts of endangering children. She remains out on bond.
Mentor police officers were called out to the Extended Stay America hotel at 5650 Emerald Court around 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 after a concerned resident spotted a small child alone in the parking lot, crying, and brought her inside for safety.
Police said the three-year-old girl was only wearing a sweater in temperatures of eight degrees with 10 MPH winds. Officers quickly put the young girl in a warm police cruiser…