Ayanna Nicole Smith
A woman has been arrested on charges that she went out to a club, while leaving her children, ages one and two, at home in filth.
Ayanna Nicole Smith, 23, of 2006 Emma Kate Dr., was charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse.
A man contacted police who said he has been raising them until recently and, until recently, thought he was the biological father. He said he was told that the children had been left unattended for several hours.
The man said he went to the Emma Kate Drive address and got no response when he knocked on the door. He said he could hear a child crying so he crawled through an unlocked window.
He said he found the children crying in their playpens.
Police responded and found the two-year-old naked and covered in feces. There was dried fecal matter all over the playpen. The child had two swollen eyes that appeared to be infected.
EMS responded and assisted police in cleaning up the children. No baby wipes were found anywhere in the house. There was one container of baby formula with a small amount left in it. Police washed a bottle and prepared some formula for the children.
EMS transported the babies to Children's Hospital for treatment.
Police contacted Child Protective Services and filed a complaint of neglect.
The next-door neighbor was able to contact the mother and she returned home.
She advised that her friend was watching her children that night while she went to the club. However, the friend said she had told Ms. Smith that she could not watch the children. She said she left the house around 1 a.m. and Ms. Smith was still there, though very intoxicated.
Ms. Smith said she went to the club and got back early in the morning, but said she had not checked on the children since she left for the club. She said she left to take her a friend to work.
Police said it appeared the children went at least 12 hours without any care, feeding or contact with an adult.