Emergency officials tracked a vehicle from West Virginia into Pennsylvania after receiving a report that an 8-year-old needed urgent care.
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A cross-state welfare check led Pennsylvania troopers to an unresponsive 8-year-old girl who was having seizures inside a vehicle Monday, authorities said, prompting emergency treatment and a criminal investigation in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Police arrested Lisa Miller, 60, of Dawson, after troopers stopped her vehicle along Route 51 in Fayette County. She is charged with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. The charges are allegations, and court records did not identify an attorney who could comment on her behalf.
The emergency response began shortly after 4 p.m. when Preston County emergency personnel in West Virginia asked Pennsylvania State Police to help locate a child traveling into Pennsylvania. Authorities had received information that the girl may have ingested bleach at Big Bear Lake Camplands in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.
Troopers from the Belle Vernon and Uniontown stations searched Route 51 and found Miller’s vehicle in Perry Township. According to a criminal complaint, the girl was unresponsive, actively seizing and restrained by several seat belts when officers approached the vehicle.
Troopers removed the child and arranged for her immediate transport to WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. She was later transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown because of the seriousness of her condition. Authorities said she remained on life support, though reports differed on whether her condition was stable or critical.
A 15-year-old boy who was riding in the front passenger seat told investigators that he learned earlier Monday that his sister had ingested bleach, according to the complaint. He said she later became ill and lost consciousness during the drive. Police have not publicly explained how the substance was ingested or released independent medical findings about the cause of her condition.
The boy told police he urged Miller to take the girl to a hospital, but the vehicle continued toward Pennsylvania. Investigators alleged that Miller passed two hospitals before troopers stopped her. Miller reportedly told the boy she planned to take the girl home and “lock her up,” according to the complaint.
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said investigators found items inside the vehicle that raised additional concerns, including a dog leash that authorities believe may have been used to restrain the girl. The complaint also described bruising on the child. The boy alleged that Miller had struck his sister, but those accusations have not been proven in court.
Trooper Kaylee Barnhart credited relatives who contacted 911 with helping authorities locate the vehicle before it reached its destination. Their report gave emergency officials information about the vehicle’s route, allowing Pennsylvania troopers to begin searching after it crossed the state line.
The case involves conduct alleged to have occurred in both states. Pennsylvania authorities are handling the charges connected to the traffic stop and the alleged failure to seek medical care, while investigators in West Virginia are examining what happened at the campground. Police said additional charges could be filed as the investigation develops.
A judge denied Miller bail Tuesday after finding that her release could pose a threat to the girl or other children in the household. Miller was being held in the Fayette County jail, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 28. Authorities have not announced whether West Virginia has filed charges or requested her extradition.
Author note: Last updated July 15, 2026.