VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — A mother is facing felony charges after police found her child sleeping on a park bench in Valdosta and also leaving drugs with in reach of her children at home.
The Valdosta Police Department is charging 35-year-old Ebony Campbell with child neglect after getting a call of her child sleeping on a park bench Sunday night.
Once officers found the girl, she told them she had not eaten all day. Officers found other children at the girl's home, but no parent or a guardian.
Once Campbell arrived, she could not tell officers how long she had been gone or where she had been. During a search of the home, investigators found marijuana and pills that the children could reach.
Campbell was arrested and taken to the Lowndes County Jail.
The Division of Children and Family Services did take the children to a safe place.
If convicted, Campbell could face up to 20 years in prison.
A Valdosta mother is facing felony charges after police say she abandoned her children for several hours, leaving drugs within easy reach of her kids.
But how officers found one of the children is heartbreaking.
According to Valdosta Police, officers responded to the 500 block of South Fry Street after they got a call from a neighbor who saw the child sleeping on a bench on Sunday night. Once officers found the girl, she told them she had not eaten all day.
During the investigation, officers found other children at the girl's home but no parent or babysitter.
While officers were on scene, the children's mother, who was identified as 35-year-old Ebony Campbell, finally arrived at the home. When officers questioned Campbell, she could not tell them how long she had been gone or where she had been.
Officers say Campbell consented to let them check the home for the well-being of the children. While officers were searching through the home, they found marijuana and several pills in the kitchen that were easily accessible to the children.
The investigation of the home revealed the living situation was not suitable for the children and the Department of Family Children Services responded to the location, transporting the children to a safe environment.
Campbell was arrested on scene and transported to Lowndes County Jail, where she is being held on the following charges:
- Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree-4 counts-felony;
- Possession of a Schedule IV Narcotic-felony;
- Reckless Conduct-3 counts; and
- Possession of Marijuana-misdemeanor
