Police in Texas say a couple allegedly left their five children alone, sometimes for days at a time. Danny Carl Neal, 42, and Chantel Nicole Caldwell, 39, reportedly stayed in a hotel with their children. Neal and Caldwell allegedly allowed their children to leave on Halloween with a sibling. But when the family member tried to return the children, she couldn’t get in touch with the parents.
According to court records obtained by KTRK, it appears the parents had a habit of leaving the children alone. Now, they face charges of neglect.
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The children went trick-or-treating on Halloween.
An older sibling went to the hotel where the family stayed to pick up the kids on Halloween, KTRK reported. After taking the children, ages 3, 5, 6, 7, and 12, the older sibling allegedly tried to contact Neal and Caldwell to return them but couldn’t reach them. Because the relative wanted to be sure the kids stayed safe, she cared for them overnight.
The next day, the sibling tried to contact the parents again.
This time the sibling told police to say they’d contacted the hotel where the family stayed. An employee allegedly told the siblings Neal and Caldwell had checked out the day before. On November 4, officials responded to reports of abandoned children.
Multiple people tried to find the parents.
According to KTRK, another family member told police she helped the sibling watch the children, and she could not find Neal or Caldwell either. During the investigation, officials found that the children did not attend school. Disturbingly, the children told police their parents had left them alone before.
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The children claimed their parents took off more than once.
Court documents revealed that one of the children said they were left alone for three consecutive days the week before Halloween. The child added they “did not have anything to eat and have a toddler who cannot fend for himself,” KTRK reported.
The children allegedly said their parents left them for up to three days at a time without supervision on multiple occasions. Authorities said they are now safe.
According to online records, Neal is in jail on a $10,000 bond and was expected to be in court on November 8. Caldwell’s location was unclear.
