CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — Chillicothe, Mo., police say 33-year-old Sydney Harrison admitted she left her three-year-old son home by himself Monday night while she went to a Walmart two miles away.
According to the probable cause, a Chillicothe police officer responded to the Harrison’s home around 7 p.m. Monday after someone reported a child in the middle of the street. When the officer arrived, he said he saw the three-year-old boy in the driveway wearing only a diaper.
“No shoes. No shirt, nothing,” Ruth Hutcherson, neighbor, said. “As a grandmother, I was scared to death. I was shaking.”
Ruth’s husband Floyd stayed with the child until officers arrived. The Hutchersons said the boy was playing outside by himself for approximately 30 minutes until police arrived.
“Been out there in a diaper and barefooted and his mom’s gone. It’s a sad deal,” he said.
About 10 minutes after police arrived, Harrison returned home and admitted to police she was about two miles away at Walmart.
“When she left, the child was asleep and she said she had to make a Walmart run,” Det. Jon Maples said.
Police arrested Harrison. Prosecutors charged her with a felony count of endangering the welfare of a child. The probable cause statement indicates Harrison told authorities, “to knowing it was wrong and she shouldn’t do it, but she says her son is a handful and wears her out.”
“Luckily, the neighbors were watching out,” Maples said.
“I’m relieved to know that he’s safe,” Ruth said.
The boy remains in state custody at this time. His mother is out of jail.
