Woman Arrested for Leaving Children Unattended to Go on Cruise

A mother in Houston, Texas has been charged with child abandonment after allegedly leaving her two young children alone at home while she went on a cruise.

The incident came to light when the children's father, who was out of town for work, called the police after being unable to reach the mother or children for several days.

According to police reports, the 29-year-old nurse left her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter unsupervised in their apartment while she took a week-long Caribbean cruise with friends.

Neighbours alerted authorities after hearing the children crying and noticing they had been alone for an extended period.

When police arrived at the apartment, they found the children hungry and scared, with no food in the refrigerator and very little in the pantry. The children told officers their mother had left them alone, and they didn't know when she would return. Police were able to contact the father, who immediately returned to care for his children.

Why this matters: This disturbing case highlights the critical importance of ensuring proper care and supervision for young children at all times. It also raises questions about the nurse's judgment and fitness to work in a caregiving role.

The nurse was arrested upon her return from the cruise and has been charged with two counts of child abandonment, a second-degree felony in Texas. She is currently being held on a $40,000 bond. Child Protective Services has launched an investigation into the incident.

"You shouldn't leave your kids at home while you go on a cruise," said Houston Police Department Lieutenant James Branson. "That's pretty much common sense. We're just thankful the children are safe and back in their father's care now."

Key Takeaways

• The Houston woman was charged with child abandonment for leaving kids alone to go on cruise
• Neighbors alerted authorities after hearing children crying and being alone for days
• Children found hungry and scared with little food, told police mother had left them
• Nurse arrested upon return and charged with 2 counts of child abandonment, held on $40K bond
• Child Protective Services launched an investigation, father returned to care for the children