A Massachusetts mother reportedly left her young children home alone so she could have a night on the town. Jennifer Prudencio, 25, allegedly left her chronically ill 3-year-old son in the care of his 7- and 8-year-old siblings on April 6 while she went out drinking. Despite apparently receiving texts from the older children telling her that 3-year-old Yael Guardardo-Prudencio needed his mother, she allegedly did not return home until the next morning.
Per CBS News, Prudencio stayed out all night drinking and spent the night with her boyfriend. When she returned to her Chelsea apartment on April 7, Yael was dead. Now, the mother of three is in jail on a $100,000 bond.
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Yael had long-term medical issues.
According to CBS News, Prosecutor Audrey Mark said Yael had a history of medical seizures and suffered from hemophilia, a bleeding disorder. In the week before Prudencio's night out, Yael had been sick and vomiting blood. He also reportedly had an unrelated head injury and vomited prior to his mother's departure on Saturday evening.
The child's behavior was reportedly concerning to his siblings.
While Prudencio was out, her 8-year-old son texted his mother to tell her he was worried about Yael. He also sent a video showing the child's behavior. The mother, seemingly unconcerned, allegedly told the boy she would be home soon but didn't return until the next morning.
When she got home, the 3-year-old was dead.
Yael had died while she was gone, and Prudencio was soon arrested. When she spoke with police, she reportedly confessed to being away from her children on the night of the boy's death.
"The defendant also admitted that during the night, she received a video and text from her 8-year-old son communicating concerns for the alleged victim's well-being. And that despite that, she chose to stay out all night," Mark said, per CBS News.
The mother wasn't under the scrutiny of authorities prior to Yael's death.
Prudencio's attorney, Peter Lemire, said his client was distraught and had never had dealings with the Department of Children and Families prior to her son's death. Lemire called Yael's death a "terrible, terrible tragedy." The mother's two other children were placed in DCF custody, CBS News reported.
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Prudencio pleaded not guilty.
The mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. She is being held on a $100,000 bond, and if she makes bail, she has been ordered not to have contact with anyone younger than 16, CBS News reported. She is due back in court on May 2, 2024, for a probable cause hearing.
"The death of someone so young is a tragedy beyond words. My heart goes out to all who knew and loved this young boy and to the police and emergency services personnel who responded to the scene that sad morning," Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden shared in a statement.
