MoCo Mom Arrested for Leaving Kids Alone at Rehoboth Beach

[Anonymous]

The sad part is that if a divorced DCUMer posted a vent that her XH left the kids under 10 for 45 min in their vacation rental, everyone would tell her she was unhinged or trying to control him. It's only neglect if a mom does it.

[Anonymous]

JFC, the free rangers and their supporters have found this thread. SMH.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So when they mom was arrested the kids were being held somewhere? They should have just given her a ticket.

Again, you have no idea what the full story is. Maybe she was hammered drunk. Frankly, she looks a bit red in the face and glassy eyed in her mugshot, like she's been drinking. If they found her sitting at a restaurant bar 5 miles away "getting food" while her kids are alone on the beach, no, she should not get a ticket and have her kids turned over into her possession.

Wow, so now you've convicted someone of being drunk based on a photo taken when the subject has been arrested for neglecting her kids? Jeez.

Well what do you think is more likely? Do you have any idea the benefit of the doubt white women, especially mothers, are given? There had to be something going on that the article didn't detail to end up in ARREST.

And here we go. Yet another thread turns into a lament about racism.

Not at all. You're the one bringing it up. But white women are like, the least arrested demographic there is. If she was arrested, there was a reason that warranted it.

White women who aren't viewed as middle or upper class are also arrested frequently. It's more of an issue related to SES.

She isn't low SES.

I realize this mom isn't, but I'm responding to the person who is saying AA women are arrested more often. Lower SES white women aren't given much benefit of doubt.

I don't see AA women mentioned at all except by you. There are other races beside black and white. Where my brother lives, most females who are arrested are Native Americans. And usually for public intoxication, fighting, or child neglect. Where my cousin lives, it is more often Latinas and Asian women who are being trafficked by gangs.

[Anonymous]

The dogs did not escape the house. The kids had them leashed and were trying to take them for a walk, but they're big dogs, and the kids were clearly unable to control them.

I saw them shortly before this went down, but assumed they were out with their parents' permission.

[Anonymous]

I would have no hesitation leaving my 7 and 9 alone in this scenario for a quick errand. Guess the dogs complicated things though. Crate them while mom is out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

No. I understand why the man called CPS. I do not understand why the mother was arrested though.

If she had literally just gone down the street to pick up dinner and got delayed (crowds/order not ready/traffic) and thought that her kids were safe inside the house - that was reasonable. The dogs getting out and running off was unexpected and accidental. The kids running after their beloved pets is understandable. Those kids could have ran out into the street after their dogs even if their mom was home at the time. Stuff happens. Accidents happen.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Perhaps the cops/CPS saw something that has not been reported. But if this was just a matter of kids running after dogs that accidentally got out.....and arresting the mother for daring to be out picking up dinner at the time....that seems over the top to me. These kids weren't toddlers or preschoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

No. I understand why the man called CPS. I do not understand why the mother was arrested though.

If she had literally just gone down the street to pick up dinner and got delayed (crowds/order not ready/traffic) and thought that her kids were safe inside the house - that was reasonable. The dogs getting out and running off was unexpected and accidental. The kids running after their beloved pets is understandable. Those kids could have ran out into the street after their dogs even if their mom was home at the time. Stuff happens. Accidents happen.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Perhaps the cops/CPS saw something that has not been reported. But if this was just a matter of kids running after dogs that accidentally got out.....and arresting the mother for daring to be out picking up dinner at the time....that seems over the top to me. These kids weren't toddlers or preschoolers.

Your rhetoric is way over the top. Why so defensive?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Hey peeps. It was NEVER established that her kids ran in front of a car. If yiu are claiming that, you ARE making stuff up. NP btw

According to the police, the dogs ran in front of the car and the kids were trying to get control of them, so presumably they were in the road even if they weren't running in front of cars.

Chances are guy asks where mom is (aka why are your dogs running in traffic and unleashed and why isn't there an adult helping you get them back) and they say oh, she left to get food.

Not surprisingly, as it is nearly dark, there are dogs running in the road, and kids out in the road trying (and failing, it sounds like) to get them back in, with no parent in sight, guy calls the police and rightfully so. Obviously the situation was NOT under control.

There is a lot of presuming and assuming here. And card stacking. 7:30 in the summer is NOT nearly dark. And even so...so what? My kid has been in the street all alone when he goes to play somehere else and he has been left home alone. He is 9.

If you're assuming things. Why not assume the kids had it under control and the adult, like many of the Hawks here, over reacted?!

BECAUSE THE LAW IN DELAWARE IS 12

It's not "12 unless you're on vacation and the kids are kinda responsible but o shit the dog got out."

PLEASE READ THE LAW BEFORE CLAIMING TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

Q. At what age can I leave my child home alone?
A. While there is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, the Division of Family Services will accept for investigation any report of a child under the age of 12 being left alone. DFS will also accept reports for children age 12 and over if there are any extenuating circumstances (e.g. developmental delays, physical disabilities).

It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone.

That means under 12 is at police and CPS discretion to charge them. Obviously they didn't meet the criteria of level and ability to be alone.

Yes, that does NOT mean that leaving a kid under 12 is always illegal. The mom obviously thought they did meet the maturity level.

Right. But that was a risk she took, because she was wrong. The guidelines clearly state a report will be investigated and parents need to think carefully before leaving kids that young

That is not the same as saying that the law in Delaware is kids have to be 12. When you say that, you make it seem like the mom purposely broke the law. She didn't. She thought her kids were mature enough. Obviously the cops disagreed. The judge will ultimately decide who was right.

Lol the judge is going to go by the LAW . Which is 12.

The point is there isn't an actual law, just a guidance.

However for all practical matters (I say this as someone in the social work field) the "CPS guidance" is what the police, and the judges, use in determining if the kid was old enough or not. It isn't a law, but it pretty much serves as one.

There is no law and no guidance saying 12. What it says is that they may investigate cases under 12. Why can't you people read before spouting off?

Here is the actual guidance:

"It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone."

Link: http://kids.delaware.gov/faqs.shtml

The judge will look at the circumstances and decide if the mother should have known that her children did not have the appropriate comfort level, abilities and overall behavior to be left alone for 45 minutes.

If it is anything like Virginia, mandated reporters MUST report anyone under the "CPS will investigate" age. I'm sorry you are unable to understand the definition of the word "guidance." You seem pretty dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sad part is that if a divorced DCUMer posted a vent that her XH left the kids under 10 for 45 min in their vacation rental, everyone would tell her she was unhinged or trying to control him. It's only neglect if a mom does it.

Not if they and their dogs ran into the road at sunset and narrowly avoided getting hit by a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dogs did not escape the house. The kids had them leashed and were trying to take them for a walk, but they're big dogs, and the kids were clearly unable to control them.

I saw them shortly before this went down, but assumed they were out with their parents' permission.

How do you know these are the same kids? Are these your friends?

That just shows more bad judgement. Leave kids home - ok. Leave them wandering the rental neighborhood with giant dogs - not ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

No. I understand why the man called CPS. I do not understand why the mother was arrested though.

If she had literally just gone down the street to pick up dinner and got delayed (crowds/order not ready/traffic) and thought that her kids were safe inside the house - that was reasonable. The dogs getting out and running off was unexpected and accidental. The kids running after their beloved pets is understandable. Those kids could have ran out into the street after their dogs even if their mom was home at the time. Stuff happens. Accidents happen.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Perhaps the cops/CPS saw something that has not been reported. But if this was just a matter of kids running after dogs that accidentally got out.....and arresting the mother for daring to be out picking up dinner at the time....that seems over the top to me. These kids weren't toddlers or preschoolers.

This isnt what happened. A pp posted the kids intentionally took the dogs out and were not able to control them. This is why parents need to be avalablr to their kids. Did mom tell them to walk the dog while was gone? If so, very poor judgment on her part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

No. I understand why the man called CPS. I do not understand why the mother was arrested though.

If she had literally just gone down the street to pick up dinner and got delayed (crowds/order not ready/traffic) and thought that her kids were safe inside the house - that was reasonable. The dogs getting out and running off was unexpected and accidental. The kids running after their beloved pets is understandable. Those kids could have ran out into the street after their dogs even if their mom was home at the time. Stuff happens. Accidents happen.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Perhaps the cops/CPS saw something that has not been reported. But if this was just a matter of kids running after dogs that accidentally got out.....and arresting the mother for daring to be out picking up dinner at the time....that seems over the top to me. These kids weren't toddlers or preschoolers.

This isnt what happened. A pp posted the kids intentionally took the dogs out and were not able to control them. This is why parents need to be avalablr to their kids. Did mom tell them to walk the dog while was gone? If so, very poor judgment on her part.

Assuming this PP knows these people. Do you really think these are the only two people walking dogs at the beach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dogs did not escape the house. The kids had them leashed and were trying to take them for a walk, but they're big dogs, and the kids were clearly unable to control them.

I saw them shortly before this went down, but assumed they were out with their parents' permission.

Thanks for sharing. Either the kids didn't follow directions or mom didn't emphasize that they couldn't leave the house.

[Anonymous]

I think she knew by the address. she was staying in the same development, possibly the same atreet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

No. I understand why the man called CPS. I do not understand why the mother was arrested though.

If she had literally just gone down the street to pick up dinner and got delayed (crowds/order not ready/traffic) and thought that her kids were safe inside the house - that was reasonable. The dogs getting out and running off was unexpected and accidental. The kids running after their beloved pets is understandable. Those kids could have ran out into the street after their dogs even if their mom was home at the time. Stuff happens. Accidents happen.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. Perhaps the cops/CPS saw something that has not been reported. But if this was just a matter of kids running after dogs that accidentally got out.....and arresting the mother for daring to be out picking up dinner at the time....that seems over the top to me. These kids weren't toddlers or preschoolers.

Five miles isn't just down the street.