In Houston, 29-year-old Lakesha Woods Williams faces serious legal consequences after allegedly leaving her two young children home alone so she could enjoy a luxury Caribbean cruise. Williams was charged last week with two counts of child endangerment when authorities discovered her children, aged 6 and 8, alone in their high-rise apartment without any adult supervision.
Neighbors and concerned citizens alerted police after they noticed Williams had not returned for several days. Upon investigation, Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 5 deputies found the children in conditions described as being in “complete disarray,” with trash and leftover food scattered about the living space and a potent smell of urine.
Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, was arrested after allegedly leaving her children, ages 6 and 8, home alone for six dayshttps://t.co/TASRgHpltf
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Paramedics checked the children over thoroughly and Child Protective Services immediately placed them in the care of their aunt. Williams, who was arrested the day following her return from the vacation, had set up a camera inside the apartment to monitor the children remotely and told officers she communicated with them via text messages.
However, officials stressed the severity of the neglect. “These children were left unattended for many days and put in harm’s way,” said Keegan Childers, the chief prosecutor of the 209th District Court.
“For them to provide for themselves, feed themselves, take care of themselves, as well as, what if somebody breaks in? What if there’s a bad neighbor? Any number of horror, nightmare scenarios that could come up,” Childers added.
Affidavits filed with the court stated: “Deputies tried contacting the Defendant to make the scene, but she was not cooperating and was switching up her story on her whereabouts.”
“We are still putting together the facts and circumstances of how these children were left alone for several days,” Constable Ted Heap said in a post on Facebook. “But the important thing is they are safe now and those responsible should be held accountable for leaving these kids in an unsafe situation.”
Neighbors told officers it was “not the first time” the mother had left her young children alone at home while she went out on the town.
Constable Ted Heap said, “We are still putting together the facts and circumstances of how these children were left alone for several days. But the important thing is they are safe now and those responsible should be held accountable for leaving these kids in an unsafe situation.”
The mother’s bond was set at $25,000, and she was expected to make her initial court appearance on Monday.
The ease with which some parents dissociate from their responsibilities, facilitated perhaps by technological tools like surveillance cameras, suggests a disturbing trend of deprioritization of child welfare in the name of pleasure. While technology like cameras can offer a false sense of security, they are no substitute for responsible adult supervision and care.
