The father of one of Ebony Maddoxâs two children claims he knew that she had been leaving her 4-year-old and 2-year-old kids home alone, and evidently had enough. He called police in Houston to report the situation, and when deputies arrived at Maddoxâs apartment, the 4-year-old child answered the door.
When police searched the home, they confirmed that no adults were present. Deputies called for assistance, and as they waited for additional services to arrive, police reportedly witnessed one of the children holding an open wine bottle.
Maddox said she left her children with a friend.
When deputies contacted Maddox, she told them she was 20 minutes away from home and had left the children in the care of a friend, Fox 26 reported. There was no friend in the apartment. When Child Protective Services arrived, the children were released to the care of Maddoxâs mother.Â
There is no specific age minimum for leaving children home alone in Texas.
Officers charged Maddox with child endangerment. Deputies transported her and booked her at the Harris County Jail. After the arrest, Constable Sherman Eagleton released a statement reading, “Leaving a child under the age of 15 unattended in circumstances that place them at substantial risk of harm can result in criminal charges of Child Endangerment or Abandonment. There is no specific minimum legal age in Texas for leaving a child home alone, but caregivers are expected to exercise sound judgment based on the childâs age, maturity, and the safety of the environment. Situations involving young children left alone â even briefly â can result in criminal prosecution and CPS involvement.”
A woman who lives at Maddox’s home denied being charged.
When ABC13 visited Maddoxâs home, the reporter questioned her about the charges. She denied all accusations, and even her identity.
âI donât recall that at all,â the woman who answered Maddoxâs door replied. âIâm not even Ebony.â When the reporter showed the woman the mug shot resembling her, she claimed that it was not her. When asked her name, she said her name was Nicole.Â
Some questioned why the father didn’t take his child.
âI would never leave my kids at home by theyself,â Nicole said. ABC13 reported that the children are now in the custody of their grandfather. They spoke to the man who confirmed he has the children and is speaking to an attorney.
When ABC13 posted the video of the interview with âNicoleâ on their Instagram page, one IG user asked the question we were also wondering: âSo the father called CPS on the mother of his kids, BUT they were placed with their grandfather. So is the father unfit as well?â
