Six hours after they were captured on surveillance video wandering the streets of South Philadelphia, a 3-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl left the Special Victims Unit with police and their mother, headed home after the early morning ordeal.
"There's two little kids just walking by with nobody with them and we're just like... what?" said Good Samaritan Johnny Eardley.
Eardley says it was just before 6 a.m. when surveillance cameras where he works at the Philly Pretzel Factory captured the children walking near Broad and Passyunk.
"The girl wasn't saying anything. The boy was just saying 'daddy,' that's all he was saying," Eardley explained.
Eardley and co-workers quickly brought the kids inside the store and called 9-1-1.
"I have a little sister, she's 2-years-old and I was thinking, what if that was her?" said the head baker at the Pretzel Factory.
The children spoke little English so police went door-to-door looking for their parents. Then up stepped Christina Russo, who works at a local day care at 16th and Passyunk.
"They said we're looking for these kids, we have no clue who they are. I came outside and I said 'oh, they're my neighbors.' So I told them where the house was," Russo told FOX 29.
Police went to the house and found the children's mother. She apparently was asleep upstairs with her new baby, when the kids somehow unlocked the front door and wandered off after their father left for work.
"I would never let that happen," said Russo, a mother herself.
The children's mother and father refused comment. The children were checked out at a nearby hospital. No charges have been filed. But Russo and Eardley had some advice.
"Just keep a closer look. Mom needs to keep all three kids in the bed," said Russo.
"Put a better lock on your door where kids can't reach it," Eardley added.
Eardley said the children kept staring at pretzels while they were at the Pretzel Factory, so he loaded up a few in a bag, gave them to police, who later fed them to the children while they were being taken to the hospital and then the Special Victims Unit.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:17 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:17:37 GMT
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Monday, June 17 2013 5:18 PM EDT2013-06-17 21:18:27 GMT
"Very creepy" is the way neighbors are describing the most recent incidents involving a suspected prowler in Lumberton who has struck three times in the last couple of months.
"Very creepy" is the way neighbors are describing the most recent incidents involving a suspected prowler in Lumberton who has struck three times in the last couple of months.
Friday, June 14 2013 5:02 PM EDT2013-06-14 21:02:59 GMT
Just hours after L&I building inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer ended his own life Wednesday night, sources say police found a videotape on which Wagenhoffer says "it wasn't my fault."
Just hours after L&I building inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer ended his own life Wednesday night, sources say police found a videotape on which Wagenhoffer says "it wasn't my fault."
Thursday, June 13 2013 5:36 PM EDT2013-06-13 21:36:19 GMT
"We have now lost seven lives in connection with this tragedy." With those words, city officials confirmed the overnight suicide of License and Inspections Inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer.
"We have now lost seven lives in connection with this tragedy."With those words, city officials confirmed the overnight suicide of License and Inspections Inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer.
Wednesday, June 12 2013 5:35 PM EDT2013-06-12 21:35:59 GMT
For the neighbors on the 6500 block of Crescentville Road this intersection with Cheltenham Avenue has been a nightmare. So much so, they can't even sit out on their front porches.
For the neighbors on the 6500 block of Crescentville Road this intersection with Cheltenham Avenue has been a nightmare. So much so, they can't even sit out on their front porches.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:07 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:07:39 GMT
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:57 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:57:09 GMT
A former teacher in central Pennsylvania is charged with allowing a student to perform body piercings in class. The teacher at Northern York County High School resigned after the incident last April.
A former teacher in central Pennsylvania is charged with allowing a student to perform body piercings in class. The teacher at Northern York County High School resigned after the incident last April.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:26 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:26:08 GMT
Torrential rain and storms are moving across the region tonight. The heavy rain is causing flooding for some people out on the roads, particularly in South Jersey and Delaware.
Torrential rain and storms are moving across the region tonight. The heavy rain is causing flooding for some people out on the roads, particularly in South Jersey and Delaware.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:20:41 GMT
Bensalem Police have released a series of photos of the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in.It all happened on Monday when the suspect was observed trying to break into vehicle
Bensalem Police have released a series of photos of the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in.It all happened on Monday when the suspect was observed trying to break into vehicle
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:17 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:17:37 GMT
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Lots of traffic and police activity, police cameras are everywhere. But that didn't stopped this armed robber from calmly walking into a Dunkin Donuts on camera Monday afternoon and sticking the place up.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:47 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:47:28 GMT
It was a crime that stunned a Montgomery County community--the murder of a baby and her grandmother. Now, the lawyer for 27-year-old Raghunandan Yandamuri says his client was "pressured" into confessing.
It was a crime that stunned a Montgomery County community--the murder of a baby and her grandmother. Now, the lawyer for 27-year-old Raghunandan Yandamuri says his client was "pressured" into confessing.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:41 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:41:03 GMT
A man from Newark Delaware has been charged after he exposed himself to a woman while stopped at a red light. The incident happened on May 1 around 8:30 p.m.
A man from Newark Delaware has been charged after he exposed himself to a woman while stopped at a red light.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:58 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:58:15 GMT
Ever wonder how you can stay toned while on vacation? FOX29's Mike Jerrick was out on the patio with some tips from the folks at Balance Chestnut Hill on "Good Day Philadelphia" Tuesday morning.
Ever wonder how you can stay toned while on vacation?
Surveillance video captures two kids wandering around Wednesday morning near Broad and Passyunk.
