(Newser) – For years, five children were concealed from society, living in a dilapidated row home in Pennsylvania with no heat, electricity, or running water. Detectives recently found the children, ages 2 to 13, and charged parents Louann Bowers, 33, and Sinhue Johnson, 45, with child endangerment. The children had no birth certificates or immunizations and had never attended school, the AP reports. They were living with their parents in one room and drank rainwater that came through a leaky roof.



Neighbors said they never saw any sign of kids. "How did they do that?" wondered one. Making the story even stranger: Bowers ran away from home when she was 16 and "didn't want to be found," her attorney said. "I think, unfortunately, Mom's desire to not be found by her family impacted the children's growth." Officials say some of the siblings, now in foster care, have health and vision issues and possible mental health issues.

(Read more child endangerment stories.)

