A teenage mother in Maryland has been arrested after allegedly leaving her baby to hang out with friends at McDonald’s.
Police in Aberdeen shared a photo of Kira Faust, a 19-year-old, who was taken into custody following a report of child neglect. On May 18, authorities responded to a call indicating that a 6-month-old infant had been left unattended. They found the baby alone in what they described as an “unsafe and unsanitary living environment.”
“With help from the Bel Air Police Department, officers found Ms. Faust, who admitted to leaving her child at home while she went to visit a friend at McDonald’s in Bel Air,” the police stated. They also indicated that they took temporary custody of the infant.
“Staff from UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Aberdeen provided necessary supplies for the baby, while Child Protective Services made efforts to ensure the child’s safety,” the department added.
“Ms. Faust faced charges of child neglect but was later released on her own recognizance,” they noted.
Interestingly, reports indicate that Faust had been working as a childcare teacher at Churchville Presbyterian Preschool and Nursery School in Aberdeen, although she hadn’t been employed there for the week leading up to her arrest.
Regrettably, this incident is not isolated. Just days before, officials in Stafford County, Virginia, found another abandoned infant near a public park. The mother was located later, and no charges were brought against her.
“The Sheriff’s Office reviews all information and evidence in cases like this to see if charges are warranted. This situation was treated no differently,” the Sheriff’s Office commented. “In collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we’ve decided not to pursue charges in this case at this time.”
In various states, such as Virginia, laws enable parents to safely surrender a child under 30 days old at designated locations, like hospitals or fire departments, without facing legal penalties.
