Mother arrested for leaving her 2-year-old child home alone while working 12-hour shifts

An Izard County woman faces multiple charges for leaving her 2-year-old son home alone while she worked 12-hour shifts. Twelve charges have been filed against 34-year-old Joanna Mae Taylor of Melbourne.

Authorities found out what happened after Taylor was arrested in Fulton County, according to the affidavit. The Izard County Sheriff’s Office had received a call to ask about the baby’s safety after learning of Taylor’s arrest because they knew Taylor was known for leaving the toddler home alone.

The officer investigating the incident arrived at the home about 14 hours after Taylor’s arrest and had to break in. He found the two-year-old in a closed bedroom with no light and nothing to eat or drink. The child was wearing no clothes but two diapers that were heavily soiled.

An ambulance was called to examine the two-year-old. Officials changed diapers and gave him food and milk. Personnel from the Izard County Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) also arrived.

Arrangements were made to transfer Taylor from the Fulton County Jail to the Izard County Jail. Officials noted in the affidavit that Taylor did not mention that her son was alone in her residence during her arrest or while incarcerated in Fulton County, nor did she inform anyone that her son was home alone.

During an interview with Izard County investigators, Taylor admitted that she had worked 12-hour shifts at nursing homes in Izard, Fulton and Independence counties for the past two months, leaving her 2-year-old son home alone each time because she did not have a babysitter or family support. Officials noted in the probable cause affidavit that after the 2-year-old’s family members were identified, they were at the DCFS office within minutes to care for the toddler, and that many of them live in Izard County.

Taylor is charged with 12 counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Her bail is set at $60,000.

Her arrest in Fulton County was for failure to appear before the prosecutor.

WebReady^TM Powered by WireReady^® NSI