A York County mother, grandmother and uncle were arrested Wednesday after investigators say two young children were found confined and severely neglected inside a Newberry Township home. According to authorities, one child lived inside a homemade, locked crib built from stacked cribs while the other was routinely buckled into a car seat for long stretches. Both children, who were 5 and 6 when they were removed, have shown rapid improvement since being placed with a foster family.
York County District Attorney Tim Barker and Newberry Township police announced the arrests at a news conference, saying the case stemmed from reports made to hospital and child-welfare staff in March 2024 and a nearly two-year investigation. Barker identified the defendants as Ashley Cardona, 31, Lori Cardona, 53, and Michael Cardona, 29, and said prosecutors presented an affidavit of probable cause supporting multiple felonies. As reported by WGAL, the DA described the children’s condition as severe and the alleged confinement as prolonged and deliberate.
When officers executed a search warrant at the Cassel Road residence, they found a makeshift cage in the living room that investigators say measured about 51 by 31 by 60 inches and contained carpet stapled to plywood, a strong urine odor and suspected fecal matter. Charging documents allege the boy was kept inside the stacked-crib enclosure and restrained by a wrist device attached to a leash, while the girl was buckled into an infant car seat for 20 to 23 hours a day. Those details are laid out in the court filing and were reported by Fox43.
Medical findings and expert review
Medical staff at WellSpan York Hospital documented severe muscle and fat loss, abnormal gait, global developmental delays and extensive dental decay, including numerous cavities that required extractions and crowns, and recommended physical, occupational and speech therapy. Prosecutors said Penn State Health child-protection experts reviewed the records and concluded the pattern of neglect and confinement met criteria consistent with child torture, conclusions that were described by WGAL. The DA’s office pointed to the children’s rapid improvement after removal from the home as part of the evidentiary record.
Charges and legal implications
Prosecutors charged Ashley and Lori Cardona with multiple counts including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, false imprisonment and unlawful restraint, while Michael Cardona faces conspiracy and restraint-related counts, according to the affidavit and charging documents summarized by Fox43. Under Pennsylvania law, aggravated assault can be graded as a first-degree felony and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison; the state code also includes tougher sentencing provisions when offenses involve young children. For the statutes on aggravated assault and felony sentencing see 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702 and 18 Pa.C.S. § 1103.
Investigation timeline and next steps
Officials say the hospital contacted police on March 19, 2024. Children, Youth and Families conducted repeated home visits between Feb. 24 and March 19, 2024, and investigators executed a search warrant on March 22, 2024 before continuing the probe. Arrest warrants were executed Wednesday morning and the defendants are expected to be arraigned. Prosecutors said the York County DA’s special case unit handled the investigation. The children remain in foster care with a local family and are receiving therapy and dental care as part of their recovery, officials said.
