Michigan Mom Arrested Hours After Reporting Her Kids Missing
A Michigan mom was arrested Friday just hours after reporting her two young children missing.
According to the Battle Creek Enquirer , a 32-year-old woman reported her 7-year-old and 1-year-old child were missing from the 300 block of Hamblin Avenue in Battle Creek just after 2:30 am.
She told Battle Creek police she left her home around 5 pm Thursday evening and returned at midnight to find her children were gone. Police found evidence that indicated she had actually returned home after 2 am and arrested her for child neglect.
The children were later located three miles away at a family friend's home, whom the 7-year-old had contacted via an iPad. The two children have since been safely placed with family members.
In the state of Michigan, there is no agreed-upon age allowing for all children to stay home alone. In the entire United States, only Illinois and Maryland have laws dictating a proper age to leave children home alone, though many states do offer guidelines.
Michigan details its guidelines here , and much of it has to do with gauging your child's maturity. Some examples from the Child Welfare Information Gateway in Michigan:
READ MORE: Is it Illegal to Drive With a Dog in Your Lap in Michigan?
If your child checks off a few of those questions, it's still suggested by the state to have a trial period where the child has shorter times alone to get comfortable and to always check in on the child to ensure they are handling the responsibility well.
