[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Ugh. This is incredibly sad and concerning.
An Oklahoma couple is facing child neglect charges after authorities say they left three young children home alone while they went out to play… pickleball. No, seriously.
According to a statement from the Glenpool Police Department in the Oklahoma City of Glenpool this week, Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts (pictured above, in their mugshots) were arrested back on August 30 after officers allegedly discovered their children, ages 8, 5, and 1 at their home without any adult supervision.
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Police say a 911 caller reported concerns that the children were left alone. The caller apparently contacted Roberts, who allegedly said she and Dick were playing pickleball at a court in Bixby, roughly 20 minutes away. Roberts also allegedly claimed the children were with sitters.
But when the caller went to the home, authorities say the children were, in fact, alone.
Officers who responded reportedly found the 8- and 5-year-old watching television while the 1-year-old was asleep. Thankfully, according to police, all three children were ultimately “found safe and in good health.”
When the parents returned, officers allegedly asked how the children could reach them if an emergency happened. Roberts reportedly said they had access to an iPad they could use to call their parents.
That alone would be disturbing enough, but authorities allege this may not have been an isolated incident.
According to the Glenpool PD, investigators later learned that the couple had allegedly left the children home unsupervised before. WTF?! Police also learned the parents have a fourth child, an infant, whose childcare had reportedly been arranged.
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The Oklahoma Department of Human Services was notified following the arrests. And now, Dick and Roberts each face three counts of child neglect.
Thankfully, the children were reported to be safe and healthy when officers arrived. But leaving three children — including a one-year-old — without an adult present is an extremely serious allegation! Regardless of whether the parents believed the kids could reach them by iPad!
Look, hey, we know that pickleball is fun. But it can wait. It can always wait. Little kids need supervision!!!
Reactions, y’all? Thoughts? Opinions? Let us know in the comments (below)…
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
[Image via Glenpool Police Department]
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