A Scranton, Pennsylvania mother is facing a child endangerment charge after police say her 7-year-old daughter’s teeth decayed so badly she could no longer eat solid food without pain. Officers responded September 10 over reports the child wasn’t being fed and possible drug use in the home. The girl later told investigators the only time she was free of pain was while she was asleep, and that she drank milk when she was hungry.
A dental exam on September 14 found 10 cavities and large areas of decay, with no record of any prior dental care. According to the report, the child needed multiple extractions and procedures and hadn’t been seen by a doctor since the family moved to Pennsylvania in 2024. She also described cockroaches, rats, and bugs in the home. Maria Lopez-Paz, 39, faces a preliminary hearing at 11 a.m. on October 14 before District Judge Laura Turlip.
The vaccination requirement that kept the girl out of school meant teachers and nurses weren’t seeing her day to day, which is often how this kind of neglect comes to light. It raises difficult questions about how family struggles reach the point of criminal charges, and how quickly our community should step in when a child is hurting. What do you think about how and when authorities should get involved?
