A Texas mother is facing criminal charges after officials said she left her three young children alone at home last week with little to eat.
Shaquita Evans, 36, was arrested on Sunday on a charge of child abandonment, according to an arrest document.
Last Thursday, deputies from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Bushbuck Field to conduct a welfare check. According to the affidavit, a neighbor called when Evans’ 8-year-old child came to their door, asking for food.
When deputies arrived, they discovered the 8-year-old, along with two younger siblings, ages 2 and 1, inside the home without adult supervision. Investigators characterized the home’s interior as disorganized, noting that the only food accessible was frozen meat and canned foods.
Neighbors in the vicinity informed KSAT 12 News that the children had contacted them before in similar circumstances.
“She’ll come up and ask for water and food, so we’ve given her some stuff,” said Daniel Clough, a neighbor. Clough claimed that he frequently noticed the two older children outside alone, sometimes during regular school hours.
“Usually, I see them running around with no adult supervision,” Clough stated. “Anything may happen. As you are aware, children can be taken. They could be wounded on the street, and we have no way to contact anyone.”
Evans was called by deputies over the phone and soon returned to her home.
According to the affidavit, Evans informed detectives that she was unemployed and had been away for a job interview. However, when deputies examined a lady who had offered an alibi for Evans, she acknowledged Evans had asked her to lie to police.
Investigators also asked Evans about her children’s school attendance. According to the affidavit, she informed deputies that she let them stay home from school on occasion and questioned why she had to send them at all.
Following the inquiry, investigators placed Evans into the Bexar County Jail.
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