A Texas woman was arrested for leaving her three toddlers alone for an indeterminate amount of time, leading neighbors to grow concerned when they saw the kids wandering alone outside.
Madeline Colunga, 28, was taken into custody on July 8 in Tomball, a small city near Houston, Texas. She was charged with child endangerment with intent to return. According to a press release from Harris County Constable Precinct 4, police were called after neighbors reported three small children, ages 1, 3 and 4, wandering around their yard without a parent or any other adult present.
Harris County Constable Precinct 4
When police arrived, they found the three youngsters home alone, and they were not able to reach their mother. After some time, they were able to contact a family member who came to the scene and reached Colunga by phone. She said she was on her way back and quickly returned to the residence.
However, when questioned by police, she was not able to provide a “reasonable explanation” as to why she left the kids alone or even where she was and for how long. According to court records viewed by Law&Crime, she was booked and quickly posted her $5,000 bond.
The Harris County Constables noted in their press release that they contacted Child Protective Services, and the children were turned over to a guardian at the scene.
“The safety of our children is always our highest priority,” said Constable Mark Herman. “Leaving young children home alone places them at serious risk and is never worth the gamble. We are grateful for the neighbors who acted quickly and contacted law enforcement. If you see a child in danger, don’t hesitate to call 911.”
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