Evansville, IN – A 42-year-old mother has been arrested in Evansville, Indiana, after allegedly leaving her 16-year-old daughter and a friend with a bottle of vodka while a 1-year-old child was left unsupervised, later found wandering the street in the middle of the night.
Incident Overview
The alarming incident occurred in the early hours of July 5 at a residence on Stevens Avenue in Evansville, located approximately 165 miles southwest of Indianapolis. A female neighbor discovered the 1-year-old girl, later identified as the child of Ashley Ellis, walking in the street wearing a soaked diaper.
The neighbor, who woke up to the sound of dogs barking, went outside and found the toddler calling out “mommy, mommy” repeatedly. The concerned neighbor immediately took the child indoors, changed her, and noticed a severe diaper rash and sores. She then called 911.
Police Investigation and Teen Testimony
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders found Ellis’ 16-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old friend but could not initially locate Ellis. Shortly after, the 16-year-old reportedly suffered a seizure and was rushed to the hospital.
According to the 15-year-old friend, Ellis had given the teens a bottle of vodka around 1:30 a.m. before leaving. The teens consumed about three shots each. The friend stated she was unaware of the toddler’s presence until the child started crying around 2:30 a.m. Later, at around 4:40 a.m., both teens were reportedly vomiting, and the friend believed the toddler had wandered outside around this time, unattended for approximately 30 minutes.
Charges Against Ashley Ellis
Ashley Ellis has been charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was arrested on Thursday and is currently held in the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $750 bond.
Police attempted to contact Ellis multiple times, but she was unreachable for two days. When she eventually spoke with authorities, Ellis claimed she had only planned to be out for a few hours but panicked when she realized what had happened. Additionally, Ellis refused to take a drug test when offered.
Legal Proceedings
Ellis is scheduled for her initial court appearance this Friday afternoon.
Community Impact and Safety Warnings
The incident highlights the dangers of leaving minors in the care of other minors, particularly in situations where alcohol is involved. Local authorities are urging parents to be vigilant and avoid putting children at risk in such situations.
“It only takes a moment for a tragedy to occur,” said one local official.
Conclusion
The arrest of Ashley Ellis underscores the importance of responsible parenting and safeguarding children from harm. The community remains on alert as the legal process continues, with many residents voicing concerns about the safety of their children in similar situations.
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