(08/02/06) STANHOPE ? Police say a Stanhope mother left her 13-year-old daughter home by herself for months in a sweltering apartment without electricity.

According to police, officers found the girl Tuesday after the landlord reported foul smells emanating from the apartment. They say the girl, who was hiding under a bed, showed no signs of ill health or malnutrition despite living on her own for weeks. Police say they also discovered a broken toilet, cat urine and cat feces throughout the residence.

The girl?s 27-year-old mother, Lisa Sylvester, has been charged with neglect and child endangerment. She is being held on nearly $53,000 bail. Police say they don?t know where Sylvester spent all her time during the month, but they claim she stopped by periodically to drop off food and money.