The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Parents arrested after 3-year-old found wandering street in Lancaster

by •

Neighbors said the child wandered away from this home on the 43800 block of Chaparral Drive in Lancaster. The 3-year-old boy was reportedly found on the 43800 block of Countryside Drive, walking in the middle of the street, sheriff’s officials said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
Neighbors said the child wandered away from this home on the 43800 block of Chaparral Drive in Lancaster. The 3-year-old boy was reportedly found on the 43800 block of Countryside Drive, walking in the middle of the street, sheriff’s officials said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

LANCASTER – The parents of a 3-year-old boy were arrested Wednesday after concerned residents spotted the child walking alone in the middle of the street at least three blocks away from his home, authorities said.

A 48-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were taken into police custody, but their names are being withheld pending further investigation, according to Deputy Joshua Stamsek of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The incident was reported just after 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, and deputies responded to the 43800 block of Countryside Drive in Lancaster where residents said they saw the child, Stamsek said.

The residents who reported the incident said they were driving through their neighborhood when they spotted the child walking in the road wearing shoes that were too big for him.

“We pulled up… got him over to the sidewalk and tried to ask him his name, but he seemed kind of incoherent,” said a man, who did not want to be identified. “I drove the neighborhood looking to see if there was a house that might be open and found a house on the next street over with the garage open but no one answering the door.”

When deputies arrived on scene, they were able to locate the child, and concerned residents directed them to the child’s home, Stamsek said.

“Upon arriving to the child’s residence, deputies discovered a bedroom in the residence locked from the outside with a chain and lock,” Stamsek stated. “Deputies opened the locked bedroom and found a 10-year-old female.”

Stamsek said the girl had no access to a restroom or food while locked in the bedroom, and deputies believed she was possibly put in the locked room as punishment.

“There were no other residents or parents home at the time deputies arrived at the residence,” Stamsek stated. “Deputies were able to locate the parents and detained them per their investigation.”

Stamsek said the Department of Children and Family Services was notified about the incident and the “horrible condition of the residence.”

He said DCFS placed the 3-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl into protective custody. Two siblings who were at school during the incident – a 9-year-old girl and 6-year-old boy – were also taken into protective custody, Stamsek said.

The parents were booked on suspicion of child endangerment, child neglect and false imprisonment, sheriff’s officials said.

No further information was available Wednesday evening.

–

Editor’s note (correction): The woman arrested in connection with this incident is actually 52 years old, according to LASD inmate records.

Updated 5/29/15 [Editor’s note]: The young boy found wandering the street is actually 4 years old, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Read an update to this story here.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

36 comments for "Parents arrested after 3-year-old found wandering street in Lancaster"

  1. Loved what someone says it takes a village to raise a kid. Growing up, i don’t think neighbors will call the cops but rather keep me until my parents comes back. It sucks that no one wants to talk to neighbors these days. I think there is a kind of hatred towards this family by the neighbors. But locking a child in the room with chains is distasteful (if this story is true, I still don’t believe it). Where are those kids gonna end up in future; juvenile halls and juvenile camps of course; and when they end up being a nuisance to the society; who will they blame? The system, the cops, the parents or the family that had them as foster parents. The system sucks. God help us.

  2. I’ve met the parents and know the little boy. The father was well dress, suit and tie. The mother was a little weird and quiet. I pray and hope the children are well. I understand little toddlers unlocking doors and leaving, while parents are in the home. These parents left their children alone. My question is, Are the children safe in “protective” custody? Foster care systems are not guarantee for child safety, they just take children away from a bad situation to a worst one. Child services need to guarantee child safety. I hope and pray those children are unconditionally Loved. For the people to down talk OUR creator, here’s some wisdom. This world is filled with crime, torture, bad energy,pollution and hate. The next life is far more abundant and harmony. That’s if you believe that. Don’t be mad a God for taking your loved one to peace and harmony in the heavens.

  3. When I was two I was tall enough and smart enough to unlock and open the door, which I did one night late. My mom was frantic when she woke up and I wasn’t home. Would people arrest my mom today?

    • If you were locked from the outside with a chain and lock do you think your mom deserved to be arrested?

    • Maybe. In any event a picture of your house would be blasted on the internet and your entire family’s lives would be ruined unless your parents could afford to up and move.

  4. Realize God loves us all, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    Realize everyone is a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
    Realize sin has a price that must be paid REPENT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Realize Jesus Christ died to pay for our sin. “But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
    Pray and ask Jesus to be your and their Savior. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath has raised him the dead shall you will be saved.
    Do not judge Pray, for the Man, Wife and the (4) Children for Salvation, Healing , and Deliverance for a foster home that can take all of the children so they will not be apart until God work it out! We must Love our neighbor as Myself, and thank God for His GRACE.

      • She gonna say some b.s like “god gave the deputy strength to open the door.” Well it was in gods plan to lock the girl up in the bedroom.

      • Seriously. God don’t help nothing. My sister died of cancer don’t tell me when the better place now. That God saved her and ended her suffering. If someone was going to save her she should’ve never got sick at all.

        • believe in our Lord he is amazing I know the feeling of loss and how we want to blame god but really trust in his word and his love for his children I lost my brother my sons dad and my dad and yes I could shut down and blame God but I refuse God is goox. please don’t loose faith through the death of a loved one . death is a part of life period and we will all be together in the kingdom of heaven

      • God has placed human justice in the hands of man. We are to judge such matters in the light of His standard for justice. The law of Moses was giving to a people who had been slaves for generations so they would be able to self govern. We have the responsibility to carry out justice.

  5. Many years ago we had moved to a new house. I answered the door someone ask me if this little boy was mine. Shocked I said yes. He was three had woke up and decided he wanted to go outside unlocked the door and out he went. We put a lock higher up on the door and it never happened again. No comparison to to what happened here. My child getting out did not make me a bad parent. I realize that We were lucky the new neighbors found him.

    • Not GHETTO JUST FOLKS WHO NEED JESUS IN THEIR LIVES!!! PLEASE PRAY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF HELP AND GUIDANCE TO THE LORD SO THIS KIDS CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE IN THIS SO MESSED-UP WORLD..GOD HAVE MERCY ON US!!!

  7. God bless those children . And amen E That absolutely Was the best comment iv herd ever. ITS so sad to know there’s really people like this out there and so closes to home I have 5 children and bet ur ass I can have more patience then what I have . and trust me I just wanna run for the hills some times but. Really really locking a 10year old in a room. And a 3 year old roaming the streets really . I just dont understand .WTF WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE . Now there being placed in

  8. Can someone please explain to me how both of these parents are in custody but, in a far worse case (link below) the mother is running around free as a bird??? all of these cases of child abuse and neglect make me sick. However what makes me more ill is the fact that an infant is fighting for his life and the mother is free, meanwhile this 3 year old is well (maybe a bit traumatized) and both parents are incarcerated. Can someone please help me understand the logic???

    https://theavtimes.com/2015/04/24/hearing-reveals-details-of-palmdale-infant-abuse-case/

    • I must agree with you completely. That other so called parent should be locked up as far as I’m concerned too.

    • I feel that the justice system is failing more and more.. i cant believe who on there right mind would allow a criminal or someone who has hurt an innocent little live free !! As if what she did was ok.. people please pray that God opens up the mind of this people in charge. . They are so stupid to even allow this to happen.. Then they wonder why people do what they do .. Its because the have no fear oc God and the criminal system in America its sucks..

      • So sad about all this kids committing suicide like the 8 year old in acton ca. Just breaks my heart. .Does anyone know why? Please explaine to me why ? :{

  9. Another “Free Range” child. I think if the parents allow their young child to roam they should give him a gun….just in case he gets in a clench

    • Not free range parenting! That’s not parenting leaving a 3year old unattended and locking a little girl in her room all day

      • NIKKI, IM SURE DQVID WAS USING COMPLETE SARCASM IN HIS COMMENT.Thank you GOD for those people who took time to help and save these children from those monsters before it was to late.and this article wasn’t about finding these children dead.

  10. I get extremely furious when I hear about these types of incidents. It’s so sad that there are people who don’t take any pride in being a good, responsible, caring parents. I would never lock my daughter away like that, worst than an actual prisoner, and then just go away from the house. Who would leave their 3 year-old child completely unattended? Really!!! Why can’t we all just provide a happy, healthy, & safe childhood for our children? That’s what make a great foundation for a better future.

    • I get furious as well. All I do is pride myself on being a good mother. My son is 3. He never leaves my sight. Some people do not deserve children and shouldn’t reproduce. This makes me so upset because most likely these children will be separated from their siblings and they’ve already be published enough. God help these kids and this world.

      • Hey Tini I agree these story make me so angry and hurt my heart all at one but instead of just talking crap about others to say your proud of the parent you are say your peace and realize your not perfect! So hold your baby tighter, read to him a little longer, play with him and when your done being proud of what a great parent you are go become a mentor for those that have no one to be the perfect parent to them.

        Sorry to sound harsh and if you just misspoke then no harm no foul, but to say your so proud of yourself is not only arrogant and egotistical, but shows how selfish and probably untrue it really is. Everybody could always be somebody better! Best of luck in your life of proudness in yourself.

        • U R so right. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE CHILDERN. So, where is our village??????????? Tini, to bad we can’t pick our parent’s. God bless and keep praying for change.

          • Church use to be the village (not that everyone should run back), but we need to get out of our houses and talk to our neighbors.
            To those that found the child, thank goodness for you.

          • Amen i agree and prayer is the strength. .I just wish people would open up their hearts to the Lord!

        • When someone takes pride in something it means they put a great effort into it. Taking pride in being a good parent is something every mother or father should do. If more people had a sense of pride in their parenting we wouldn’t have as many cases such as this.

        • If more people had a sense of pride there would be less idiocy in the world. Have our standards really fallen so low? Get off your high horse.

        • Amen, E! I watch my rambunctious special needs son like a hawk, but twice at the age three he managed to escape the house and wander. Both times neighbors called the Sheriffs and didn’t return my boy as I frantically searched for him. I did nothing wrong other than use the restroom (he climbed out a window I didn’t know was open) & the Sheriff saw that. But what irked me was the glee my neighbors took in reporting the incident.

          You’re right, Joyce, we have no village. In the olden days when I grew up, should you get loose, another parent would send you on your way home, or walk you home, possibly with a swat on the behind! Everyone looked out for each other and their children. None of us “free range” kids were abducted because everyone knew who did & did not belong in the neighborhood.

          Did I deserve arrest b/c my son’s as fast as greased lightning? I don’t know. I do know that I realized he was missing in about three seconds after I flushed. The sheriff who extensively interviewed me didn’t think so, but my neighbors seemed disappointed in not seeing me hauled off. Of course, my situation was different: two adults were home, my house wasn’t filthy or dangerous, my doors had “baby proof” locks on them. However, I can’t help but think that people today are more interested in busting someone than truly helping.

          None of the smirking women asked if I needed childcare, or any help at all. In fact, no one even introduced themselves as they physically kept my son from me. The sheriff suggested no parenting or safety resources. I think, except in cases of egregious & obvious abuse/neglect, that the world would be served a lot better if we cared for each other and our children more & indulged in self-righteous schadenfreude less.

        • E….she did not sound arrogant or boastful…she sounded like a PARENT that takes pride in her ability to be a GOOD MOTHER! Sheesh, you people make something bad out of a comment just to bait people. well I took the bait and am not happy with your comment! SOME PEOPLE ARE GREAT PARENTS AND KNOW IT and don’t need to be told by people like you that they are lying…

          • She was being boastful. I noticed it as well and at first only ignored and continued to scroll. But coming back to this article, I am glad to see that someone like E replied and very politely I might add.
            We all have opinions about this case and about bad parenting in general. But to speak so quickly about how PERFECT one’s self is proves to be quite pretentious.
            Pride in parenting comes AFTER your child is grown and you are able to look back and see that you have done a job well done. I believe I am a good parent. I love my 15 year old daughter unconditionally and try my best every day. But a day does not go by that I do not look forward and hope and pray I’ve made all the right decisions for her.