In a shocking case out of Killeen, Texas, a young mother’s decision to leave her toddler alone in dangerous conditions has led to criminal charges. Reese Louise Myers was arrested on November 4, 2024, months after an incident in July that left authorities and the community concerned. The 22-year-old now faces a charge of abandoning or endangering a child, which highlights the consequences of prioritizing her personal interests over her child’s safety.
On July 28, 2024, Killeen police officers responded to a welfare call at an apartment in the 600 block of East Hallmark. Concerned neighbors had reported seeing a toddler dangling dangerously from a broken window.
When officers arrived, they were met with a shocking scene: the 16-month-old boy had managed to stick his head and shoulders out of a ground-level window, very close to falling. To make matters worse, an aggressive dog inside the apartment charged at residents who tried to intervene.
Upon inspection, officers found the window patched with plexiglass and cardboard—a temporary fix that failed to keep the child safe. Inside the apartment, the toddler was dressed in only a t-shirt, surrounded by two protective dogs. The officers determined the child had been left completely alone.
The apartment revealed a chilling attempt to confine the child in a makeshift safe zone. A baby gate blocked off the kitchen, doors to other rooms were shut, and the main door was deadbolted. However, these measures were inadequate in ensuring the child’s safety.
Police contacted Myers, who admitted she was over 130 miles away in San Antonio, visiting a man she had met on the dating app Hinge. Myers claimed she had hired a babysitter via Facebook, but this was quickly found to be false. When officers contacted the supposed sitter, she said she hadn’t spoken to Myers since December 2023.
The child was taken to AdventHealth for evaluation and then placed in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS).
The investigation was handed over to the Killeen Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. Detectives presented their findings to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office, which issued a complaint against Myers for abandoning or endangering a child.
Myers, however, proved elusive. She evaded authorities until November 4, 2024, when deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested her. She was extradited to Bell County, where she remains in custody with bond set at $25,000.
As Myers awaits her day in court, the focus now shifts to the child’s future. Authorities and CPS are working to find a safe and nurturing environment far removed from the dangerous situation he was left in. What makes this extra shocking is that as a parent you know how much trouble a toddler can get into when you leave them for just a few minutes. This child was left alone for an entire day. They are lucky he’s alive.
