Bucks Dad Faces Charges After Toddler Found Wandering In The Rain

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A Holland dad is facing child endangerment charges after his 18-month-old toddler was found by a neighbor wandering around outside in the rain while cars were driving nearby.

Northampton Township Police have charged John Frances Datillo of Stafford Place with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a third-degree felony, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Police were called to Stafford Drive on May 14 by a neighbor who found the child wandering around the street wearing a diaper, holding a cigarette lighter, and with no apparent adult supervision. After about 15 minutes, the neighbor told police Datillo exited his house, retrieved the baby, and returned to his house.

According to court documents, during an interview with police Datillo told police that he was doing household chores and was unaware that the toddler had left the house, explaining to police that he was home alone with four children and that the mother was not present at the home.

A welfare check of the toddler by police found the baby had not been properly cleaned or bathed and that his legs were covered with what appeared to be mud and dirt from being outside. Police also observed dried food on the toddler's hands and that the diaper appeared to be the same one the child was wearing outside and was still wet.

Police told Datillo that they would be notifying Bucks County Children and Youth due to a previous incident in April.