A Missouri woman is facing charges after police say she left her three young children alone for more than a day in deplorable conditions, with one infant repeatedly banging his head against a wall until authorities rescued him.
Background
Courtney Lynn Box, 29, rented an apartment in Springfield where she lived with her three children — twin toddlers around 1 year old and a 3-month-old infant. On Jan. 10, at approximately 10:50 a.m., the Springfield Police Department responded to a wellness check call at Box's residence after a neighbor reported hearing consistent banging sounds emanating from the home for several hours.
According to a probable cause statement filed in court, the caller told dispatchers she had been hearing banging and small child sounds "for 7 hours." The witness said she had seen a woman with a baby move into the apartment the previous day but noticed there was no vehicle parked in the assigned spot. When officers arrived, they could also hear the disturbing sounds coming from inside.
Unable to see into the residence, police requested assistance from the Springfield Fire Department, which positioned a ladder at a window to peer inside. Authorities observed "a small child sitting at the top of the stairs banging their head against the wall," the court document states.
The Investigation
Firefighters entered the duplex through an unlocked kitchen window and discovered three children left completely alone in what authorities described as a home with "little to no furniture." All three were still in diapers that had become so saturated with waste that "feces and urine were leaking out all sides," according to court records.
One child remained at the top of the stairs where officers had seen him, while his twin was found on the main level. The youngest — just 3 months old — was discovered in an infant bouncy seat. After changing the children's diapers, authorities observed that all three had "extensive diaper rash" covering their bodies.
The boy repeatedly hitting his head against the wall had sustained a visible head injury and one swollen eye from his self-inflicted trauma, according to the probable cause statement.
In the kitchen, officers discovered drug paraphernalia: a small baggie containing crystal-like residue placed atop baby formula, along with a bong nearby. The children were given bread and something to drink, which they consumed "very quickly," leading authorities to conclude "they were extremely hungry." Emergency medical personnel evaluated all three minors at a local hospital.
A child services investigator eventually contacted Box, who claimed she was "out shopping for her birthday" and had left the children with another person. However, records obtained through a search warrant for Box's cellular phone told a different story — showing she had been actively using her device throughout the entire 24-plus hours her children were unattended.
Investigators alleged they found messages from the day before in which Box discussed drug use and arranging "sexual relations" for $150. Court documents further allege that after learning her children had been taken into protective custody, Box searched "child endangerment" on her phone.
The Charges
Box has been charged with three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk, along with one count of abuse or neglect of a child. She was arrested Saturday and booked into the Greene County Jail where she remains held on $10,000 bond.
Greene County prosecutors allege that Box "chose to leave her children unattended and in unsafe conditions, so she could use drugs and engage in other activities." The court document notes the lack of nutrition could have been fatal for the infant given her age, and none of the children were old enough to escape or call for help.
Key Takeaways
- Box allegedly left twin 1-year-olds and a 3-month-old alone for over 24 hours in an apartment with minimal furniture
- Police discovered one child repeatedly banging his head against a wall, causing injury; all three had severe diaper rash from overflowing diapers
- Investigators allege phone records show Box was using her device during the entire time her children were unattended
- Court documents claim she searched "child endangerment" on her phone after learning authorities had taken custody of her children
What's Next
Box is scheduled to appear in Greene County Circuit Court on July 29 for preliminary proceedings. The three children remain in protective custody while the investigation continues.