Lansdale mother charged with child endangerment

A Lansdale mother of three was arrested and charged with child endangerment Sunday after two of her children, ages 5 and 8, wandered into a Kulpsville restaurant cold, hungry, and begging for something to drink.

The next day, the woman allegedly was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Lansdale, and on Wednesday, she was arrested again. She was held in the Montgomery County prison on DUI and other charges, with bail set at $25,000.

Staffers at Pudge's Steaks & Hoagies, 1555 Sumneytown Pike, reported the two lost children to Towamencin Township police about noon Sunday, according to Chief Paul T. Dickinson.

The youngsters were not accompanied by any adults and lacked proper clothing for the weather - 25 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 12.

"The children stated they were there because they were cold and needed a drink," Dickinson said.

While restaurant staff fed the children, police found that the youngsters lived in the 1500 block of Dean Drive.

The children said they had not seen their mother since earlier in the morning and had not eaten lunch or dinner the day before.

Officers went to the children's home and found the front door ajar. They rang the doorbell but got no answer.

After several minutes, a woman police identified as Christina Marie Fitzwater, 32, came downstairs from a bedroom.

Dickinson said Fitzwater told police she had not seen the children since 9:40 a.m. She said she had left them in the care of another child, age 12.

After learning that the 12-year-old had left home the night before on a trip, officers arrested Fitzwater, the chief said.

She was charged with child endangerment, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Fitzwater was arraigned before District Judge Maurice H. Saylor of New Hanover Township. Because of the hit-and-run, bail was revoked in the neglect case.

In addition to DUI, Fitzwater also faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident and motor vehicle violations, police said.

The children were placed with a relative by Montgomery County Children and Youth Services. Police believe their father is deceased.