In a deeply troubling case out of Muncie, Indiana, a mother has been arrested after allegedly leaving her two young children alone for over 14 hours while she went to a bar. Authorities say Sandra Henriquez, 32, is now facing multiple felony charges, including neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
Muncie police officers were dispatched to a home on East Butler Street at approximately 2:22 p.m. on Wednesday after a caller reported hearing the cries of two babies from inside the residence. As officers arrived on the scene, they learned that their mom was already in custody at the Delaware County Jail on unrelated charges.
Given the distressing circumstances, police forced entry into the home, where they found two children—one just a week old and the other a year old—covered in feces. The newborn, in particularly dire condition, exhibited signs of malnutrition, with blue hands, feet, and mouth. Medical professionals later confirmed that the infant weighed less than at birth, signaling a severe lack of nourishment. The one-year-old, though in better condition, had an excessively full diaper. Also inside the home, officers found several open cans of alcohol and a small dog in a cage without food or water.
Earlier that morning, officers responded to a crash at the intersection of West Wagner Street and South Koontz Avenue, where they encountered Henriquez. She had reportedly struck a utility pole and exhibited signs of intoxication, including slurred speech. When questioned about the presence of a car seat in her vehicle, Henriquez remained silent.
Authorities transported Henriquez to a hospital before booking her into jail. At approximately 7:27 a.m., officers again inquired about any dependents, to which she allegedly replied that she had none. It wasn’t until 8 a.m. that she acknowledged having children but refused to provide her home address or contact information.
By the afternoon, during questioning at the Criminal Investigation Division, Henriquez admitted to detectives that she had left her children alone at approximately 12:30 a.m. to go to a bar. She also reportedly confessed to consuming an entire six-pack of 16-ounce Budweiser beers prior to leaving. Authorities estimate that the children were left unattended for approximately 14 hours, a period during which their safety and well-being deteriorated significantly.
Henriquez now faces multiple charges, including:
- Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Level 3 Felony)
- Neglect of a Dependent Abandonment (Level 5 Felony)
- Two Counts of Neglect of a Dependent (Level 6 Felonies)
- Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)
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