A mother from west Houston has been arrested and charged with abandoning her two young children after allegedly leaving them home alone for several days while she went on a cruise vacation.
Lakesha Woods Williams, 29, was booked into jail on Thursday evening, facing charges of abandoning a child with intent to return.
According to court records, neighbors at Williams’ luxury high-rise apartment in the Memorial area raised concerns after seeing the mother leave with luggage on April 4th and not return.
On Tuesday, deputies from the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office responded to a welfare check at the apartment and found Williams’ 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter home alone. The unit was described as being in disarray, with trash, leftover food, and the smell of urine. The children informed the deputies that their mother had left to go on a cruise vacation.
“These children were left unattended for many days and put in harm’s way,” stated Keegan Childers, chief prosecutor. “For them to provide for themselves, feed themselves, take care of themselves, as well as what if somebody breaks in? What if there’s a bad neighbor? Any number of horror, nightmare scenarios that could come up.”
Deputies reported finding a web camera and cell phone that Williams allegedly used to monitor the children remotely. Firefighters examined the children and determined they were in good health. Child Protective Services released the children to their aunt’s care.
Authorities state that Williams flew to Miami last week to board a cruise ship to Puerto Rico. She reportedly returned home on Wednesday night and initially lied about her identity to officials. The aunt of the children declined to comment on the situation.