An Izard County woman is facing multiple charges for leaving her two-year-old son at home alone while she worked 12-hour shifts. Twelve charges have been filed against 34-year-old Joanna Mae Taylor of Melbourne.
Authorities discovered what had been happening after Taylor was arrested in Fulton County, according to the probable cause affidavit. The Izard County Sheriff’s Office had received a call to check on the baby’s safety after hearing of Taylor’s arrest because they knew Taylor had been known to leave the toddler at home alone.
The responding deputy arrived at the residence about 14 hours after Taylor’s arrest and had to break in. He found the two-year-old in a closed bedroom with no lights on and no food or drink. The child had no clothes on, but two diapers on which were heavily soiled.
An ambulance was called to assess the two-year-old, and deputies changed the diapers and provided food and milk. Workers from the Izard County Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) also arrived.
Arrangements were made for Taylor to be transferred from the Fulton County Jail to the Izard County Jail. Deputies noted in the probable cause affidavit that Taylor made no mention of her son being alone in her residence when she was arrested or during her incarceration in Fulton County, nor did she notify anyone that her son was home alone.
During an interview with investigators in Izard County, Taylor admitted for the last two months, she has worked 12-hour shifts at nursing homes in Izard, Fulton and Independence counties and each time has left her two-year-old son at home alone because she has no babysitter or family support. Deputies noted in the probable cause affidavit that once family members of the two-year-old were identified, they were at the DCFS office within minutes to provide care for the toddler, and many of them live in Izard County.
Taylor is facing 12 felony counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree. Her bond is set at $60,000.
Her arrest in Fulton County was for a failure to appear charge.
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