Memphis police say they found two toddlers wandering into traffic and nearly hit by a car last Wednesday, leading officers to a home where four children had been left alone in sweltering conditions without adult supervision.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a report of a child welfare concern on Ridgedale Street when they observed a 3-year-old and her 2-year-old sibling run into the street. Officers intervened and made contact with the children, who pointed back toward their home in the 3900 block of Ridgedale Street.
Background
"Officers entered the residence and found no adults present," the affidavit states. Inside, they located two infant twins secured in car seats. The infants were allegedly asleep "and would not wake up." Officers observed the residence had no air conditioning "and was not clean."
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office says paramedics evaluated the infants, who "appeared small for their age." Police did not report whether any relatives were available to take custody of the children.
The Investigation
"A bleach bottle was located in the kitchen and the 3-year-old was trying to put it in a bottle," the arrest affidavit for Keenia Haynes alleges. Officers determined that four of Haynes' eight children had been left home alone during daytime hours while she was away.
Haynes, 35, is facing four counts of child neglect, according to police. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services was contacted to make custody and care arrangements for all eight children in the household.
"At approximately 3:16 p.m., Keenia Haynes returned to the residence carrying a beer," the document alleges. "Haynes stated she had gone to Kroger to purchase food. She claimed she had only been gone approximately 30 minutes."
According to the affidavit, Haynes' other children—ages 7, 8, 12 and 13—were at school when police responded to the home.
Key Takeaways
- Keenia Haynes, 35, is charged with four counts of child neglect in Shelby County, Tennessee
- Police found two toddlers wandering into traffic; a 3-year-old was allegedly attempting to drink bleach from a bottle
- Two infant twins were discovered asleep and unresponsive inside the sweltering home, which had no air conditioning
- Officers say Haynes returned home carrying a beer approximately 30 minutes after leaving for Kroger
- All eight children in the household have been placed with Tennessee Department of Children's Services
- A bond hearing is scheduled for Monday
What's Next
Haynes is due in court on Monday for a bond hearing. The case remains under investigation by the Memphis Police Department, and additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services has custody of all eight children while prosecutors pursue the child neglect allegations.