Two toddlers, ages 1 and 3, were discovered alone inside a Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, home on Monday alongside the bodies of two adults who investigators believe had been dead for several days, according to the Allegheny Police Department.
The deceased were identified as Lamara Baldwin, 31, and Lamont Dunlap, 42, found at a residence on Franklin Avenue. Authorities said the scene inside the home indicated both adults had likely been dead since July 31 — meaning the two little girls had been alone with the bodies for two days before anyone discovered them Monday afternoon.
No Signs of Trauma, Autopsies Underway
Investigators found no visible signs of trauma on either victim. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death for both Baldwin and Dunlap. Until those results are available, detectives say they cannot confirm what killed the pair.
Baldwin and Dunlap were previously in a relationship, with Dunlap identified as Baldwin’s ex-boyfriend. However, police said they have not determined what relationship either adult had to the two young girls found in the home.
The children were taken to a nearby hospital for medical assessment and then placed in the care of child welfare authorities in Allegheny County. Both girls were alive when first responders arrived at the Franklin Avenue residence.
Neighbor John Sloan, who spoke to local television station KDKA about the discovery, expressed bewilderment at the situation. “I just don’t know what could have possibly happened or what someone could have done or what the parents could have done,” Sloan said. “This is a mystery.”
Baldwin’s Final Days on Social Media
In the days before her death, Baldwin posted a Facebook livestream discussing her emotions, according to reports. Baldwin said she felt worn down and weary of dishonesty in her life.
“I’m just tired of being lied to. Never told the truth. I don’t know how much more I can take,” Baldwin said in the broadcast.
The content of those posts has added to the sense of tragedy surrounding the case, though investigators have not publicly linked Baldwin’s statements to any theory about the circumstances of the deaths. The Allegheny Police Department has not released additional details about who may have last had contact with Baldwin or Dunlap before July 31, or whether any welfare checks were requested prior to the Monday discovery.
Children Now in State Custody
The two girls, described by authorities as toddlers ages 1 and 3, were discovered Monday afternoon and transported for medical evaluation before being placed with Allegheny County Children, Youth, and Families. Police confirmed both were alive when first responders arrived on the scene, though neither child’s condition following their hospital evaluation was detailed in official statements.
Authorities have also not clarified who alerted them to the situation or how the children ultimately came to the attention of first responders at the home on Franklin Avenue.
The case draws renewed attention to the vulnerability of very young children left without adult supervision. In a separate incident in February, two children with special needs were found alone in a filth-filled Flint Township, Michigan, home after their mother was absent for days, underscoring a troubling pattern of young children discovered in dangerous or life-threatening situations without a caregiver present.
Investigation Continues in Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, immediately east of Pittsburgh. The community and investigators alike are waiting on the medical examiner’s findings to shed light on exactly what led to the deaths of two adults while two toddlers were left to fend for themselves inside the Franklin Avenue home for days.
The Wilkinsburg case remains under active investigation. The Allegheny Police Department has not announced any criminal charges in connection with the deaths of Baldwin or Dunlap, and no official cause of death has been released pending the outcome of the autopsies being conducted by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Based on the condition of the scene and the timeline investigators have established, authorities believe both adults had been deceased since July 31, leaving the children alone in the home for approximately 48 hours before their discovery. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not ruled out any possibilities regarding the cause of death for either adult.
Anyone struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, or substance use problems can call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.