A Hartford, Connecticut, mother is under arrest, accused of leaving her 4-year-old at home alone overnight and putting the child in serious danger.
On Saturday morning, Gwendolyn Rowse noticed a 4-year-old across the way standing outside her home and crying for help.
“My heart went out to that baby...I was watching it,” Rowser said. “We were afraid at first something happened to the mother."
According to Hartford Police, something did happen to Ronisha Woodard, the girl’s mother.
They say she left the 4-year-old home alone the night before and didn’t come back.
“I used to be a foster mother. I wouldn't treat nobody like that whether it was my foster child or real child…that's crazy,” said Rose Johnson.
She was on her porch when a neighbor brought the girl over, asking if anyone knew her, and then called authorities.
Local
“She was thirsty and hungry that's what she said,” Johnson said.
When officers arrived and found the child, the 4-year-old supposedly told them she was left alone, and that this wasn’t the first time Woodard had done this.
“She could have gotten killed, raped, anything,” Johnson said.
Investigators say that when they eventually tracked down Woodward, she claimed she was in New Haven and planned to come back to Hartford.
They arrested Woodard and she has since bonded out of jail.
NBC Connecticut was there when Ronisha Woodard showed up at the home in question with a state worker. She did not answer any questions.
For now, Woodard’s child is in DCF custody.
“It’s just really weird because she's a good mom,” said Alice Vaught.
However, Woodard’s alleged actions have a lot of neighbors questioning that. Especially after witnessing her 4 year old struggling.
“It’s just like when she cried…a pain went through my heart,” said Gwendolyn Rowser.
Hartford Police say the child was checked out at the hospital, and she’s in good condition.
