A mom in Indiana allegedly left her two small children, ages 1 and 1 week, at home to go drink at a bar — and police later found them covered in feces, with the youngest showing signs of malnutrition.
Police found Sandra Henriquez, 32, in the early morning of Wednesday, March 12, after officers responded to a report that a vehicle had struck a pole, according to CBS 4, Indianapolis’ FOX 59 and Muncie newspaper The Star Press.
Officers asked Henriquez, who was described as having slurred speech, if she had any children after noticing a car seat in her vehicle, and she did not respond, the outlets reported.
Following the collision, Henriquez was taken to the hospital and then to jail. She initially told authorities she had no dependents, per The Star Press, but later admitted that she did have children and was “unwilling” to share her home address.
According to the newspaper, one officer wrote that the mom of two “had multiple opportunities to inform officers and other staff about her children being home alone,” and “was even asked about children, but refused to provide that information.”
While Henriquez was in custody, Muncie Police Department officers responded to her residence around 2:30 p.m. local time on March 12 for a separate call reporting two babies crying inside the home, per FOX 59 and CBS 4. Police were also told that the children, a newborn and toddler, were locked in the home, The Star Press reported.
After police arrived, they had to force entry into the home. They then found both the 1-year-old and 1-week-old covered in feces, according to court documents obtained by CBS 4 FOX 59.
An affidavit viewed by The Star Press said the infant was allegedly covered in feces and urine and was described as “urgently cyanotic.”
Reportedly weighing less than when they were born a few days earlier, the newborn — who was “blue in the hands, feet and around the mouth,” seemingly due to malnutrition — was rushed to a local hospital, along with the older child, according to court records cited by CBS 4, FOX 59 and The Star Press.
The baby was admitted to the hospital with a feeding tube, while the 1-year-old was reported to be in good health, aside from a very full diaper, the outlets reported.
Henriquez allegedly told police she left her home just after midnight on March 12 with intent to go to a liquor store, but ended up going to a local Muncie sports bar, Big Shots Pub, instead, the newspaper reported.
She also allegedly told detectives that she drank an entire six-pack of beer before she left, per court documents cited by CBS 4 and FOX 59.
Based on the mom’s alleged admissions to police, authorities believe that her kids spent 14 hours alone at the residence, where police also reportedly saw multiple open cans of alcohol and a dog caged without food or water, CBS 4 and FOX 59 reported.
The Muncie Police Department and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment on Saturday, March 15.
As of Thursday, March 13, Henriquez was being held in jail on a $42,500 bond and now faces multiple neglect-related charges, The Star Pressreported.
Per FOX 59, she has been charged with neglect of dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, neglect of dependent abandonment and two counts for neglect of dependent, all of which are felony charges. She also faces one count of felony obstruction of justice.
It is not immediately clear if Henriquez has legal representation to comment on her behalf.
