A late-night scare in Indiana has left a mother facing serious charges after her toddler was found wandering alone in the street while she was allegedly out and her teenage daughter had been given alcohol.
According to police, 42-year-old Ashley Ellis was arrested on Thursday and charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The terrifying incident unfolded around 5 a.m. on July 5 in Evansville. A neighbor reported being woken by barking dogs and spotting a 1-year-old girl in the street, wearing only a urine-soaked diaper and crying out for her mother. The neighbor rushed outside, brought the child to safety, and called 911. She later told dispatchers the child had been wandering alone for at least 30 minutes.
When first responders arrived at the toddler’s home, they found only Ellis’ 16-year-old daughter and the girl’s 15-year-old friend. Shortly afterward, the 16-year-old reportedly suffered a seizure and had to be taken to the hospital.
The younger teen later told police that Ellis had given them a bottle of vodka earlier that night before leaving. She said both girls drank several shots and were sick by the time the toddler wandered outside. She also admitted she hadn’t even known a baby was in the home until hours later when the little girl began crying.
Police say they tried to contact Ellis for two days before finally speaking with her. She allegedly admitted she planned to be out only a few hours but panicked after learning what happened. Authorities say she also refused to take a drug test.
The toddler, who was found with severe diaper rash and a sore, is now safe. Ellis is being held at Vanderburgh County Jail on a $750 bond and is expected to make her first court appearance on Friday.
Idiots keep having kids