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Grandma charged after 4 grandchildren found home alone

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By Angela Watson Gay, Staff Writer Updated 12:00 PM Thursday, November 19, 2009

TROTWOOD — A grandmother is being charged with child endangering after leaving her four grandchildren home alone Wednesday, Nov. 18, authorities said.

Trotwood police believe the children — 10, 6, 2 and 7 months — were alone in the home on Rio Grande Avenue for approximately an hour, said Ann Stevens, spokeswoman for Montgomery County Children Services.

Trotwood Sgt. Mike Vickers said a neighbor called police about 3 p.m. after hearing a child crying from the residence. Police were dispatched to make a welfare check and found the children unsupervised.

They had been left in their grandmother’s care while their parent was at work, Vickers said. The 45-year-old grandmother returned to the residence while police were on scene.

The four children have been placed with a relative, Stevens said, noting, “the important thing is the kids are fine.” The grandmother was given a summons to appear in court.

The “community standard” for when a child is old enough to be left home alone is 11 or 12 years old, Stevens said, because that’s about the age children are eligible to begin taking classes in how to baby-sit.

“I’m talking about short periods of time. The child’s maturity level, how many children and ages of other children who are in their care all come into play,” Stevens said.

“A parent or guardian should ask themselves, ‘Is my (child) responsible enough and have the wherewithal to handle an emergency — a fire or break-in?’ ”

Stevens also said there should also be a family emergency plan in place that would include the child knowing how to contact the parent and ensuring there’s another person the child can contact if there’s a problem.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2374 or anwatson@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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