A California mom was arrested on Saturday after authorities say she made her two young kids sleep in the bushes for almost a week, while she slept in a hotel room nearby.
According to reports, 27-year-old Chardenea VanRooyen, her 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son were homeless at the time of her arrest. The mom admitted to making the toddlers stay in bushes with their father, whom she alleges left as soon as she met them for dinner. Now, she's being charged on suspicion of child abandonment and neglect.
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Officers first found the family sleeping in the bushes after a witness alerted them a baby seemingly left alone in a stroller in a parking lot around 11:15 p.m. The mom told police the kids had been sleeping there for about five days with their dad, while she stayed in other people's rooms in hotels nearby. However, police have been unable to locate the father and the kids were dirty, had no food, and inadequately dressed for the weather.
VanRooyen also expressed confusion when asked about the situation. "She said she can't stay there because she can't see her children staying in the bushes," said Graves. "When officers asked why she doesn't take the children with her to the hotel, she just says again she doesn't want to see her kids sleeping in the bushes."
She also declined the cops' offer to drive them to a homeless shelter. The mom has since been arrested and the children have been placed in protective custody.
Obviously, this family is in a tough spot, not only because they don't have a home, but because the mother's state of mind clearly isn't in tip-top condition. Why would she refuse to be taken to a homeless shelter? Isn't that better than the bushes? And how could she leave them on the streets while she slept in a hotel?
Whatever the case, I'm glad that the kids are being looked after now and hope that this mom gets the help she needs to get her life together.
Image via Thinkstock
