LOCK HAVEN - Gwen Ardner, 38, of West Main Street in Lock Haven, waived her preliminary hearing on Tuesday.  Ardner is charged with 4 counts of kidnapping, after State Police spent several days searching for a 12-year-old girl who left her home in the middle of the night on May 14th.  The girl was unable to be located for several days until she was eventually located at Ardner's home approximately 60 hours after her disappearance.  Police allege that Ardner has no relation to the 12 year old girl, and had no authority to take custody of the child.

In the charges, State Police outline that Ardner had picked up the child shortly after midnight, and then hid the child within her home.  One 3 separate occasions, Police visited Ardner's home on the suspicion that she was involved in the girl's disappearance.  Each time, Ardner denied any knowledge of her whereabouts.  Police allege that eventually they were able to obtain surveillance video from a nearby residence that showed Ardner taking the child and hiding her each time law enforcement came to her home searching for the girl.

In the criminal complaint, State Police indicate that Ardner eventually admitted to hiding the girl from police, but claimed she was trying to protect the girl.

On Tuesday, before waiving her preliminary hearing, Ardner requested that her $125,000 monetary bail be modified by MDJ Frank Mills citing her inability to pay the amount. In support of her request, Ardner testified briefly that she had recently acquired employment as a night-time janitor at Central Mountain Middle School earlier this year, and that she had an 18, 13 and 9 year old child at home to support.

DA Dave Strouse argued in opposition to Ardner's request.  He said, "this woman is accused of essentially stealing someone's child, and then lying about it for several days while law enforcement conducted a manhunt for the little girl."  He said it was even more concerning that apparently Ardner was employed at the victim's school, saying "She shouldn't be around children, ever, ever again."  Ultimately, Strouse implored to Mills that $125,000 bail was no where near enough to ensure the safety of a child, saying, "half a million, at least, is the lowest amount of bail the Commonwealth believes would be appropriate for someone like the Defendant."

Mills ultimately denied Ardner's bail modification request.  She's scheduled for Formal Arraignment on July 25, 2022.