PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A woman in Northeast Philadelphia is facing a slew of child endangerment charges after she allegedly ran an unlicensed day care out of her home and improperly cared for at least nine children under her watch.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said 53-year-old Edna Leighthardt kept the children in her care confined to car seats for entire days and didn’t give them any food or water.
An investigation was launched in August of last year by the Special Victims Unit. Leighthardt is charged with unlawful restraint and endangering the welfare of children.
She turned herself in but was released on bail due to a serious heart condition.
Unlicensed child care providers are hard for officials to keep track of.
“Because unlicensed child care providers are unlicensed, we don’t know where they are,” said Diane Barber, executive director of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association. “We don’t know who they are. And we only find out that they’re operating illegally when they’re reported or something bad happens.”