The following people were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and failure to report or refer: Amy Helcoski, 50, of Scranton; Sadie O’Day, 33, of Scranton; Bryan Walker, 51, of Eynon; Randy Ramilk, 58, of Clarks Green; and Erik Krauser, 45, of Dickson City.
In another instance, police investigating the death of a woman in October 2022 found deplorable conditions for the three children living there, including piles of garbage, and feces throughout the home, and rotten food in the refrigerator, according to WNEP. Walker, Ramik, and Krauser are all being charged in connection with that case.
“What happened to the children in these cases, as detailed in the criminal complaints filed, is heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said in a statement. “The children in these cases didn’t fall through the cracks because OYFS was understaffed. These cases were on the agency’s radar for a long time, and caseworkers DID respond – many times.”