A Philadelphia day care worker is now facing a series of charges after allegedly neglecting the children under her care. Edna Leighthardt, 53, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful restraint, and serious bodily injury. Leighthardt was operating an unlicensed day care out of her Northeast Philadelphia home, where she reportedly left children, including infants, in car seats for the entire day without providing them with food or liquids.
Parents of the affected children, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed their shock and distress upon learning about the charges. They revealed that their children were deprived of social, emotional, and physical engagement throughout the day. The parents were only shown a portion of the internal surveillance video footage, as they were informed that watching the entire footage would be too traumatizing.
SVU detectives utilized Leighthardt’s surveillance video to help parents identify their children. At present, eight children have been identified as victims, but additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses. When approached by Action News, no one answered the door at Leighthardt’s residence.
Due to a serious heart condition and an agreement that she is not a flight risk, Leighthardt turned herself in for arrest on Monday night. She was arraigned and released with set bail conditions, which include a prohibition on operating her day care or babysitting other children.
Parents expressed relief that their children were not seriously harmed during this ordeal, but voiced concerns about the potential for severe injuries or even fatalities due to Leighthardt’s negligent practices.
