Pa. parents charged with leaving 4 kids alone

MASONTOWN, Pa.

(AP) — Police have charged the parents of four young children left at home alone in deplorable conditions in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Masontown police have charged 33-year-old Robert Fowler, and 32-year-old Robin Harbarger, each with four counts of endangering the welfare of children. They face a preliminary hearing April 1.

Police say the couple left a 10-year-old girl alone to care for brothers, age 8 and 3, and a 16-month-old sister. Police have placed those children with relatives along with a 14-year-old sibling who was at school on Feb. 22, when the incident occurred.

A relative told police the couple left the children alone so they could attend a methadone clinic.

The couple does not have a listed phone.