Police said the child was found in Terra Alta’s busiest intersection before troopers discovered unsafe conditions inside her home.
TERRA ALTA, W.Va. — A West Virginia mother and two grandparents face felony child neglect charges after a 2-year-old girl was found alone in a busy Terra Alta intersection, leading police to a home with roaches, human waste and live chickens, authorities said.
The case began with a 911 call about a small child standing by herself at East State Avenue and North Main Street, an intersection police described in court records as the city’s busiest. Troopers later said the child lived about 100 yards away, but no one from the home came looking for her during the 27 minutes it took officers to trace where she belonged.
West Virginia State Police said troopers were called shortly after 2:30 p.m. July 6 after a bystander spotted the toddler alone in the roadway. The bystander got the child out of the street and stayed with her until officers arrived. Police said the girl was not with a parent or guardian when first responders reached the scene. Investigators later identified her mother as 31-year-old Shannon Leigh Blacka, who lived nearby on East State Avenue with three other children. Troopers said they went to the home with Child Protective Services after learning where the child lived.
Inside the home, investigators said, they found conditions that were not safe for children. Court records cited by police said troopers saw live chickens inside a crib where one or more children slept. They also reported seeing roaches and open waste containing human feces near an infant’s crib, within reach of children. Police said a young child was seen holding a cigarette that had been taken from Blacka’s purse. The home had four children inside, including the 2-year-old girl found in the intersection and two infants, according to police accounts of the case.
Troopers said the child found in the road had been outside long enough for officers to respond, meet the bystander and begin searching for her home. The 27-minute gap became a key point in the criminal complaints because police said no one came outside looking for her during that time. Authorities said the girl had reached one of Terra Alta’s main intersections alone, creating a risk that she could have been struck by traffic. The intersection of East State Avenue and North Main Street sits in the small Preston County city, where local roads carry neighborhood and through traffic.
During a later check at the home, police said they observed more concerns involving the children. Troopers said an 8-month-old had a rash on her thighs and back and scratches on her forehead. Police also said they saw a 4-year-old punch the 2-year-old in the face. According to the complaint, Blacka showed no concern when that happened. Authorities said the children’s living conditions, the toddler’s presence in the road and the reported injuries led to felony charges tied to child neglect and risk of injury.
Blacka surrendered to authorities and was charged in Preston County with gross neglect of a child creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Other reports from police and court records listed charges including child neglect resulting in injury and child neglect creating risk of injury. She was booked into the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, where jail records listed her bond at $25,000. The charges are allegations, and Blacka is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities later charged two grandparents, identified as Kathy Sue Hedrick and Vicky Hedrick, in connection with the same case. Police said both also lived at the home and were charged with child neglect creating risk of injury. Their arrests widened the case beyond the child’s mother and placed more focus on the adults who were living in the residence when the toddler was found alone outside. The criminal complaints said the home was unsuitable for the four children living there. The grandparents also are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case drew attention because the first report involved a toddler alone in traffic, but the investigation quickly moved inside the home. Police said the conditions they found there raised broader concerns about the care of all four children. The reported presence of live chickens in a crib, open human waste near a sleeping area and roaches in the residence were listed as part of the evidence in the complaints. Troopers also described the cigarette incident and the alleged lack of response when one child struck another.
Child Protective Services assisted state police at the residence after the toddler was traced back to the home. Officials did not publicly release the current placement of the children or give detailed medical information about them. Police reports did not say the toddler found in the intersection had been hit by a vehicle. Authorities also did not say how long she had been outside before the 911 call. Those details remained unclear as the criminal cases moved forward in magistrate court.
Terra Alta is a small city in Preston County in northern West Virginia, near the Maryland state line. The intersection where the toddler was found sits near homes and local businesses, making the child’s presence in the road especially concerning to police. The bystander’s actions prevented the child from remaining alone in traffic while officers were on the way. Police have not publicly identified the bystander. The complaints focus instead on the conditions at the home and the adults accused of failing to protect the children.
The next steps in the case are expected to take place in Preston County Magistrate Court, where the defendants will have hearings tied to the felony neglect charges. Prosecutors may present evidence from the 911 response, police observations inside the home, photographs, child welfare records and witness statements. Court proceedings will determine whether the cases move forward and what conditions, if any, are placed on the defendants while the charges are pending.
As of Friday, the criminal cases remained active, and authorities had not announced additional charges. Police said the investigation began with one child alone in the road and expanded after troopers entered the nearby home. The next public milestone will come through court filings or scheduled hearings in Preston County.
Author note: Last updated July 10, 2026.