Bloomington, IN – An Indiana mother has been charged with neglect after allegedly leaving her two young children alone at home to visit a man, leading to her 3-year-old child wandering outside in search of her, authorities say.
Incident Summary
Stephanie Wiederhold, 32, is facing charges of neglect of a dependent after an incident that took place on Monday night in Bloomington. Authorities say that Wiederhold left her home on East Melrose Avenue to meet a man, leaving her two children—ages 3 and 10—home alone. The mother allegedly believed the children were asleep and felt it was safe to leave them behind.
However, the younger of the two children, a 3-year-old, was not asleep. The toddler wandered outside, reportedly “screaming” as he searched for his mother, who had been gone for a long period of time. At around 11:30 p.m., neighbors reported hearing the child’s distress and called law enforcement.
Police Response and Investigation
When officers arrived, they found the toddler outside in the dark and heavy rain. The 10-year-old sibling had a phone number for their mother and called her, alerting her to the situation. Wiederhold returned home shortly after receiving the call, explaining that she had left to get gas and then “met with a friend.”
However, surveillance footage from a nearby gas station revealed no sign of her car traveling to the station. The authorities noted that it had been completely dark outside when the toddler left the apartment, and the conditions were unsafe, with heavy rainfall.
Mother’s Response to Police
When questioned by officers about whether she thought her older child could care for the younger one, Wiederhold hesitated to answer. She reportedly sighed and rolled her eyes before stating that she assumed the children would be fine while she was gone, believing they would remain asleep.
Legal Consequences
Wiederhold was arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail on charges of neglect. She was released after posting a $2,000 surety or $500 cash bond. A court hearing has been scheduled for Friday afternoon.
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