A mother from Indiana, Sandra Henriquez, has been arrested after allegedly leaving her one-week-old baby and toddler home alone for nearly 14 hours while she went out drinking.
Children Found in Poor Condition
Police discovered Henriquez’s children in terrible conditions inside her home in Muncie. Officers forced their way into the house around 2:22 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving a call from a concerned passerby who heard children crying and suspected child neglect.
Inside, they found the newborn baby showing signs of malnutrition, with blue hands, feet, and mouth. The baby even weighed less than at birth. Meanwhile, the one-year-old was in slightly better condition but was found wearing a diaper that had not been changed for a long time.
Authorities also found several open alcoholic beverages inside the home and a small dog in a cage without food or water.
Henriquez Arrested Earlier That Day
Earlier that day, Henriquez had already been arrested after crashing her car into a pole at W Wagner St. and S Koontz Ave. When police arrived, they noticed she was slurring her words and found a child’s car seat in her vehicle. However, when asked if she had children, she did not respond.
She was taken to the hospital and later to jail. When officers asked her again if she had children, she initially denied it. Later, she admitted she had kids but did not provide details about them or her home address.
Drinking Before Leaving the Kids Alone
At around 3 p.m., Henriquez finally told jail staff that she had gone to a bar at 12:30 a.m., leaving her children alone at home. She also admitted to drinking a six-pack of 16 oz. Budweiser before going out.
Investigators believe the children were left without supervision from 12:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. the next day.
Charges Against Henriquez
Henriquez, 32, now faces multiple serious charges, including:
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury (Level 3 felony)
- Neglect of a dependent due to abandonment (Level 5 felony)
- Two counts of neglect of a dependent (Level 6 felony)
- Obstruction of justice (Level 6 felony)
The case has raised concerns about child neglect and parental responsibility, with authorities emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable children.
