Children left unattended with drug paraphernalia, blowtorch, knives – arrest made

PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mercer County woman is facing charges after two young boys were found having been left alone at home for hours with access to an array of dangerous items.

According to documents from Mercer County Magistrate Court, at approximately 3:26pm on March 29, 2024, Patrolman Shrewsbury of the Princeton Police Department made contact with Straley Elementary School Principal, Ashley Smith, who advised that the aforementioned children had not been to school in several days. Additionally, the school had reportedly received notice from the children’s father that the children were in danger.

At the residence, authorities observed several knives and a blowtorch-style lighter lying in the living room where the boys could be seen. The heat inside the residence was said to have been set “on full blast” despite the outdoor temperatures being in the range of 50-60 degrees.

A statement from Smith revealed that the oven had also been opened and turned on in the residence, with the stovetop having also been activated and set to “broil.”

Patrolman Shrewsbury was advised by Child Protective Services that there had been drug paraphernalia in plain sight in the bedroom area which was also accessible to the children.

It was determined that the children had been left unattended for seven hours, and CPS took custody of the children based on the incident.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the mother of the children, identified as Angela Massaro, turned herself in at the Princeton Police Department and was charged with two counts of Child Neglect Creating Risk of Serious Injury or Death.