Mother left 3 children alone in feces-filled house in Dauphin County: police

The three children were left alone in a mobile home covered in feces, trash and rotting food in Lower Swatara while their mother went to an appointment Sunday, police said in court documents.

When officers arrived at the home in the 100 block of B Lane and met with the children, ages 2 to 8, there was dog feces everywhere, according to a probable affidavit. The fourth child was with his mother.

The home was “in complete disarray,” filled with the strong odor of ammonia, the affidavit said. The floor was not visible because it was covered in clothing, food and trash, court documents said.

Allegedly, the only toilet in the house was filled with feces and unusable. The bathroom sink and tub were full of trash.

The affidavit stated that there were several half-filled pill bottles around the house within reach of children. Police wrote that the children’s clothes were dirty and the two young children needed their diapers changed.

According to the affidavit, the 8-year-old boy told police that his mother, 41-year-old Heather Ordaz, had left home with one of the children that day and that he was responsible for taking care of his younger siblings.

The 2-year-old was missing when police arrived and was last seen walking along a road three blocks from their home, according to court documents.

Police spoke to Ordaz on the phone and he agreed to come to the house and meet with them. The woman told officers she left the children with an old friend named “Amy” but could not give the woman’s last name, phone number or address, according to the affidavit.

The statement stated that all four children were removed from the home and placed under protective custody. Ordaz was charged Sunday with three counts of child endangerment, two felonies and a misdemeanor.

Court records show Ordaz was released after posting $5,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6 before Magistrate District Judge Michael Smith.