MANCHESTER, NH -A Manchester mom who barricaded herself in her home when police arrived to ask her why she didn’t pick up her children from daycare and why she sent a three-year-old to school with a Lyft driver has been arrested.
On January 8, 2021 at approximately 6pm, Manchester Police arrested 35 y/o Stephanie Goddu and charged her with Endangerment the Welfare of a Child.
Goddu was wanted in connection with two incidents involving her children. She was located at her Manchester residence. Goddu did not initially comply with officers orders to surrender and barricaded herself in her apartment. After a short time, Goddu did come out and was taken into custody.
The investigation into Goddu began on January 6, 2021 when officers were notified that Goddu’s two young children had not been picked up from daycare at Southern NH Services. Employees could not make contact with Goddu. Police were told that Goddu also had a three month old infant.
Officers responded to Goddu’s home to check on her and the baby. Goddu appeared “incoherent and disoriented” and had trouble answering questions.
The baby was found to be strapped to an infant carrier seat, and was wearing extremely warm clothing and a blanket. The carrier was not more than 6 feet away from a heater and there was concern that the child could overheat. The child was also found to be covered in urine.
Through their investigation, police also learned that on January 4, 2021 Goddu had hired a Lyft driver to take her 3 y/o old child to daycare. The child arrived safely, but was alone in the vehicle.
Both the condition of the infant and the unsupervised ride to day care were cause for police to charge Goddu. Since Goddu did not initially surrender, she was also charged with Resisting Arrest.