Reese Louise Myers, a 25-year-old Texas woman, faces charges of abandoning or endangering a child after allegedly leaving her toddler alone to meet a man she connected with on a dating app. Myers was arrested in California earlier this month and extradited back to Texas where she was charged and given a $25,000 bond.
The incident, which occurred on July 28, came to light when police in Killeen, Texas, were alerted to a child seen dangling from a broken apartment window. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 16-month-old boy with his head and shoulders protruding from a ground-level window. The situation was further complicated by an aggressive dog that was charging at residents attempting to aid the child.
Inside the apartment, the toddler was found wearing only a t-shirt, under the watch of two other dogs that were protective of him. According to the arrest affidavit, precautions had been taken to secure the apartment: all doors were locked, a baby gate blocked access to the kitchen, and all windows and doors, except for the broken one, were secured.
When contacted by police, Myers stated she was 160 miles away in San Antonio visiting a man she had met online. She claimed to have arranged for a babysitter through Facebook to care for her child. However, the purported babysitter informed authorities that she had not communicated with Myers since December of the previous year.
Despite instructions from the police to return immediately, Myers did not comply. Her actions led to charges being filed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office. After her arrest by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office in Barstow, California, Myers was extradited to face charges in Texas.
Following the incident, the toddler was evaluated at Advent Health and subsequently taken into custody by Child Protective Services. This case has highlighted severe risks associated with parental neglect and the critical importance of ensuring child safety.
