The LINEHAN Children - 6-8-9-10-12 yo - Pike County PA

What started as a burglary investigation now has some parents from Pike County in trouble for putting their children in danger.

Police said they found five children ages six through 12 living in filthy conditions and the parents asleep.

Scott and Jamie Linehan are charged with endangering the welfare of their five children.

It's an investigation that took more than one month to complete.

The Linehans have five children ages six, eight, nine, 10 and 12.
Tuesday they were in court in Dingmans Ferry for their preliminary
hearing.

It started in December when troopers went to the Linehan home in
Hemlock Farms near Hawley to investigate a burglary in the community.

Troopers said they found the home in disarray with several children running around as the parents were sleeping.

In January, Jamie Linehan was charged with possession of heroin.

In a separate incident the same month, both parents were pulled over
and told police they were coming back from a drug run in New Jersey and
admitted to buying heroin and using it during the car ride home.

It came to a head last week when Pike County Children and Youth
Services went to meet with Jamie and Scott Linehan at their home. The
children were in the care of another adult who said he didn't have
money, transportation and had to ration the children's food.

Days later, troopers arrested both parents.

The parents gave up their right to a hearing on Tuesday.

"We take care of our children," said Scott Linehan as he was escorted out of court.

The Linehans are charged with five felony counts of child endangerment.

They are both in jail and could both face 35 years behind bars in found guilty.