Do you have a son named or Colton? >> How much have you had a drink today? >> After like five to 10 minutes, you just haven't came back. >> Put your be on your back right now. >> They took her because she never >> a child left at school. A girl forced to help her mother chief a breathalyzer and a toddler roaming a bar at midnight. From Oklahoma and New Mexico to Florida. When alcohol turns love into danger, tragedy is no longer rare. Parents may forget many things, but leaving their child at school just because of alcohol, the price to pay will be high. >> Is someone supposed to pick him up from school today? >> On March 21st, 2024, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma police received an urgent call from an elementary school reporting that a mother had forgotten to pick up her child. They quickly arrived at the school where a teacher was waiting and explained that the school had been waiting for over 4 hours and had made 20 calls to the mother with no response. >> Hello, Miss Sitting right here in the front office. >> I'll just get your information real quick and then we've already contacted DHS so they're going to be There she is. >> Not anybody that we know. There's not anybody else in the system. Like I said, the neighbor is listed in there. When I spoke to dispatch, >> there are Okay. In the past, as in like just a couple months ago, there were nannies, like teenagers, 17, 18 year olds, who were very consistently babysitting them. Obviously, I don't know that it was overnight or any of those kinds of things. But I do know that there's that relationship. >> And then the boy appeared. >> Hey, I want to introduce you to somebody. Hang on. Right here. This is officer. He's going to take you to be with Sawyer. Mama's not feeling very good, so he's getting mama checked out. Okay. He's going to take you to hang out with Sawyer for a little while. Okay. >> You want to ride my car? >> That's fancy. >> No, you get to ride. >> You don't want to ride in it? What do you mean? I like that shirt. >> Wait, why do I do you see? >> Yeah. I'm going to take you over to see Sawyer cuz your mom's not feeling too good, so we had to get her checked out. Okay. >> Okay. >> When all attempts to reach relatives failed, the police had to take the boy home where they were met by his mother were clearly impaired. Charlie threw it too. >> How big What kind of dog you got? >> That was a big bark. >> Where's your dog at? >> Hey, Joy. >> Hi there. >> Hey. Everything's okay. >> You're okay. >> Do you have a son named or Colton? >> Yeah. Do you have a son named >> I do? >> Okay. Is someone supposed to pick him up from school today? >> Okay. Who's supposed to pick him up from school? >> He doesn't know time right now. >> Okay. >> She doesn't know time. >> Okay. >> Do you know what time it is? >> Yeah. >> So, who's supposed to pick your kid up? >> Are you serious? >> Dead serious. They're calling us. >> Okay. >> It's 4:41. Of course. >> How much have you had to drink today? Nothing. >> Nothing. Nothing at all. >> Nothing at all. >> Okay. Even though I could smell it on you. Is there another adult here in this house? >> Are you kidding me? >> Ma'am, I wouldn't be asking these questions if I was kidding. I've been here before for this exact same issue. >> No. >> Yes, I have. And no, >> I have done. >> Soon after, the officers handcuffed her, ending the mother's absurd antics. >> Oh, no, no, no. You're not getting in the car until we do some field spray tests. Okay. >> Oh my god. >> Okay. Okay. Hey. Hey, stop. Stop walking around. >> No. >> All right. >> You guys are >> Stop. Stop. Stop. You're intoxicated and you're in control of the child and there's nobody else here. Okay, stop. >> Stop. Sit down. Just sit down in the chair. >> Sit down in the chair. >> Give me your hand. >> Give me your other hand now. >> Don't pull away from me. You'll be in a lot of trouble. >> Stop. >> Get your other hand behind your back right now. >> Put your hand behind your back right now. >> Put your hand behind your back right now. Put your hand behind your back right now. Do it now. You're not listening to what I'm telling you to do. >> It's 4:41. >> You had to go look at the clock to tell me the time, ma'am. >> How dare. >> And this is the second time I've dealt with you in this condition. How dare you? You got a 5-year-old kid crying because you don't know how to take care of yourself. That's embarrassing. >> Are you serious? >> Yes. Are you serious? That's the question. Are you serious? Have a seat. >> Yes, you're going to have a seat. We're not going to play these games. >> Yet, she kept denying being drunk despite the strong smell of alcohol and stern warnings from the police. >> Last time what happened, we were able to get a hold of dad. >> There's a PO in place. We might have to have DHS involved on this. Ask for a rapid response would be my guess. >> Let me do some investigating on that PO. >> Okay, >> kids. can smell it. Hey, so here's the deal. Okay. Do you have a family members nearby? >> No. >> Okay. No family at all. >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Um Okay. Well, DHS is on the way out here, right? >> They're going to talk to you briefly. Okay. And then uh likely you're probably going to go to jail for child with me today. Okay. Depending on >> why? >> Uh cuz your current condition. Uh >> what's wrong with my condition? >> You're intoxicated. >> I am not. >> That you can say that all you want, but >> I am not intoxicated. >> My car reeks of alcohol and you're inside my car. >> Absolutely not. I can blow. Okay. >> Okay. >> I'll blow. >> You You want to blow? >> You want? >> No. Stay seated. Stay seated. He'll come bring it to you. >> Don't >> Don't What? >> Yeah. Get out of the sand. >> You No, you tried to get in your car earlier and drive off and that's not No, we can't do that. And then instead of listening to me, you tried to get away from me and that's not okay. >> You're being very offensive. >> Okay. >> Yeah, you're being offensive. >> Okay. >> Don't be a jerk. >> I'm not trying to be offensive and I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just giving you the facts, ma'am. Everything. >> Okay. >> My child was at school 11 minutes later. No, I'm not going to blow. >> Not going to blow. Now, imagine. >> No. >> You don't want to see? I thought you were intoxicated. This will show if you're intoxicated. >> No. What you think you're doing? >> Taking you to jail. >> Yeah. >> For child neglect. That's what we're doing. >> Are you kidding me? >> For being I mean, he was at school 11 minutes later. 11 minutes. What's wrong with you, babe? You didn't even >> You didn't even know what time it was. >> I do know what time it was. >> You had to go look at the clock to tell me what time it was. >> So, chill in there for a little bit. >> Unexpectedly, the mother admitted, "I am an alcoholic." >> I don't know how to describe it. Wired up. I don't know. >> I am wired up. I'm mad. >> Yeah. What are you mad at? >> I'm mad at this whole situation. >> Okay. >> I didn't pick my kid up. I'm 4. It's 411. >> Which kid did you not pick up? >> But he didn't walk home. >> You said it was 411. >> It's 411. Walk home. He's a walk. >> Does he usually walk home? >> Yes. Don't say that. I own it. >> You ever got any help for that? >> Yes. >> Okay. But even after admitting it, she still refused to let neighbors temporarily care for her child. >> What about your neighbor, Miss Margaret? Here, >> where your kids are frequently. Is that okay or is that not okay? >> It's not okay. >> Okay. >> She's the one who did this. >> She did this. >> You did this. >> The school called us. >> She did not call us. I had to go over there and ask her for help. She did not call. >> 411. I don't know where. >> Not not correct at all. >> Not correct. >> Well, they didn't let him walk because that's they don't he doesn't usually walk. Otherwise, they would have let him walk. >> You You think your kids want to live without you? That's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to get you help and get them in a safe place for the time being. Okay. We don't want to take your kids. All right. That's the last thing we want to do. You're their mother. They know you. They love you. You love them. Right. >> So, the school called >> Yes. >> This is what happened. This is what's happening because the school closer daily >> because you didn't make very good decisions today. Let's be honest. That's why this is happening. Okay. >> They're the principal. This is what you guys are doing therapist. >> You can't blame this on them. You can't blame this on them. They didn't put you in this condition and tell you to do what you did. Okay. >> The mother was arrested and held on charges of childact facing two years of probation and a ban on alcohol. The boy was placed in the temporary care of a neighbor who is also a teacher at the school. Parents can make mistakes, but mistakes involving alcohol and children are never acceptable. A child's safety and future must always come first. Yet, the tragedy of children with parents lost in alcohol doesn't end there. Just a few months later, an even more shocking story unfolded in New Mexico. >> I'm worried for that little girl because whoever she's with, they're either on drugs or um I know that girl was drunk when she left. >> On November 29th, 2024, police received an emergency call about a 31-year-old woman suspected of making her daughter blow into a breathalyzer in the car to bypass the system before driving, leading to a rollover accident in the West Mesa area of Albuquerque. Police quickly rushed to the scene where a car was nearly overturned. The mother was sitting by the roadside, but the child was nowhere to be seen. [Music] >> I don't care. Fine, but stay. >> Anybody else in the car? >> There was a lady in here. She's wearing black. She has a black skirt. She's Hispanic and they pulled her out. But there was another lady with her and they have a little girl and they took off walking around here. So if you see her, >> they were in their car. >> Yes. That were in here. That's what according to them. I'm worried for that little girl because whoever she's with are either on drugs or um I know that girl was drunk and she left. >> She's Hispanic wearing >> Hispanic. She's wearing black. It's a skirt with black boots. All black wearing long hair. Black. Really dark complexed. But there was another girl with a bag that has a little girl that's probably about like eight or so. Two females. 12 females and one that's probably about seven. I don't know where that girl is, but she took off walking down the street somewhere. >> That's a baby girl. My baby girl. >> She was in the car with me. >> She was with you. Where did she go? >> They took her because they had >> no money. >> Were they with you in the car? >> She was. >> But were the people with you in the car? No. So, it was just you and your daughter and these two people took the little girl away. What do they look like? >> And a bike. Because you owe them money. >> Yeah. >> Do you know who they are? >> So, how do you owe them not money if you don't know who they are? >> Because we are drug dealers. >> Okay. If somebody just kidnapped your daughter, you need to stop stalling and tell us who they are. >> The story of the kidnapping seemed hardly believable to the police. >> Are you guys able to get it? >> Yeah. >> She literally pulled around and drove right into the pole. Like she >> Did she have a little girl in there? >> She was with not in the car, but she said her little girl's in the store. The little girl with her friend came in and the store to grab sodas. As I was on the phone line walking towards the accident, they were walking off property. >> She's saying they kidnapped her daughter cuz they also grabbed the daughter or something >> cuz she said that they're drug dealers and that >> that she owes them money so they took her daughter. >> But that's her right there. >> They keep going back and see >> it's a girl. She her daughter and the girl ran in the store cuz we were outside smoking. >> Let us know. Okay, we're going to go check. So, the only thing the officers needed now was a trace of the child. >> What do they look like? >> What do they look like? >> Oh, they were just wearing all black clothing like a little girl. >> Hey, they said they bought So, look. So, I'll be honest with you, okay? I don't care if you guys have drugs or doing drugs right now. Okay. Who do you buy drugs from in this complex? >> What room number? >> Okay. You're all full of [ __ ] cuz I know all you do drugs. I don't care about that. >> We just want the little girl. That's all we care about. What is the drug deal you learn? >> They didn't say like specifically like the person. What does a bike look like? >> They just said a bicycle. >> A bicycle. They were on a bicycle. >> Yeah. >> Sure. Like one of those. >> Yeah. BMX. >> Where did you get your drugs from? Here. >> I'm not going to pin you up on this. >> Not going to help you. >> Okay. I've been I've been doing this job a long time. I know somebody. Meanwhile, the police faced a major obstacle as the mother showed almost no willingness to cooperate. >> Are you the one in the car? Was there anybody else in you in there? >> Do you remember what happened? >> No. Do you have a driver's license on you? >> Robert, >> do you have a driver's license on you? >> Do you know your social? What's your first name? >> Edward. >> Is there anything I can identify you with? Do you have a credit card? Anything like that? You know, talk. Can you talk? for the property. >> Your head hurts. >> We have an ambulance coming. They're going to need to speak to you here in a second. [Music] No, that's negative. >> All I care about is that little girl. >> She even dodged questions, continuing to weave a fictional story about mysterious kidnappers. What did she think previous service 42 and all this cra me and y'all told me they were going to set me up. >> Did you have anybody else in the car with you? >> Yeah. You got to attempt talking advice. Did >> you just stop digging around? Tell us. Where did they go? Where did they go? >> I don't know. They went that way. They told me not to say nothing. >> Where do they stay? >> They told me not to say nothing. >> Where do they stay? >> They stay in the hotel. They stay everywhere. >> Hotel. >> The motel. >> Where did you meet them at? >> At the motel 6. Room 67 or something like that. Like that. Yeah. You get the [ __ ] Please. [Laughter] 66. >> Listen. What were they wearing? >> Said they were wearing black in a motorcycle with a horse. >> A motorcycle or on a bicycle? >> On a bicycle. [Music] Shortly after, a woman returned the child. And at that moment, the truth came out along with a flood of accusations. >> She was freaking out when we got off this morning. >> Sorry. My baby girl. >> You just came right here to me. >> I don't know if she was freaking out when your car was typing. >> Sorry. recently. >> I think the medical staff need to check her out. Okay. She's just been in a bad crash. She wasn't in the car. >> There was witnesses. I can verify that. I'm sorry. >> Are you okay, friend? >> Hey, friend. Hey. Hey. Look at >> You're strong. Okay. >> Okay. 162 units responding. We're going to be at the circle. Okay. Sound 13 is going to have a good time. We were I was literally just with them and then what's your name? >> Yeah, I just >> take care. was picking out to me. >> You picked me out your car. >> No, you picked me up. >> I wasn't even driving your car. I wasn't driving your car. I was not driving your car. >> Do you want to be transported? >> I was not driving. took me out of my baby. >> Can we take you were just in a bad crash? You need to get checked out. >> Police are dealing with that right now. Can we take you down to the hospital, get checked out just that crash? Okay. Despite the mother's continued attempts to escalate the situation, the police followed protocol and took her to the hospital for evaluation. >> Okay. Right now, can we take you to the hospital? We want to make sure that you're okay. >> We need We need to make sure that you're okay. You rolled your car over. That's pretty significant. We need to get you checked out. Okay. >> Um, is she in the car? Okay. [Music] >> I don't know. >> You're the one that flipped the car over. >> Yeah, you were. >> Yeah, you were. >> Uh, I'm going to I'm going to assume that. uh in the store. I guess this girl took her into McDonald's. >> She's saying she does. >> We don't want to leave him at the hospital. She's going to walk with us. Like she can walk with us. >> No, they can go with us. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, she can walk over to me with us for a little bit. Do you want to walk over to the ambulance instead of >> safer to walk her over there? Okay. >> Put under your right over here. >> I'll I'll walk with you over there. Okay. >> Okay. I got you. >> I'm just going to come with us. >> No, we're going to fall right behind you. Okay. >> I got you. Don't be scared. >> I come here. cuz you're still standing. >> You and I come. Come on. >> She's going to walk with us over to the truck. We're going to fall right behind you. Okay. >> I promise. We're going to follow right behind you. Watch. >> Uh, can you set her up? >> All right. You ready? >> Thank you. In the end, the mother was arrested and held on charges of child injurement, thirdderee felony, and providing false information to police. Under New Mexico state law, she could face up to 6 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Children are most vulnerable when living with addicted, irresponsible parents. That's why from police to the wider community, society must remain vigilant and act promptly to protect them. But the chain of tragedies didn't end there. Just a short time earlier in Florida, a 7-year-old girl had to wander into a bar alone at midnight to find her mother. >> She has her phone in it, but she didn't bring her phone, right? In the early hours of October 29th, 2023, police received an unusual call reporting that a 7-year-old girl had appeared in a bar near closing time. Searching for her mother to the staff's astonishment. They immediately intervened, comforted her, and carefully took her statement. >> How you doing? I like your little pumpkin. >> Where'd you walk from? >> Um, I walked from my you guys. >> All right. >> It's okay where you came from. Okay. You want to sit in that comfy booth with them? You want to sit with us? >> It's okay. >> Where's your supposed ice cream? >> It melted. >> It melted. You let it You let him just melt all the way. >> This is Rachel. >> Awesome. >> Hi. >> Hello. >> Here to help. >> You can talk to me if you don't want to talk to them. Okay. And I We've got your apple juice and your French fries right there. Okay. All right. What about What's your mom's name? >> Um, her name is Veronica. Rox. >> Veronica. What was the last name? >> Roxan. >> Roxan. >> Belle. >> Belle. >> Her name is Roxan and her last name. >> You're awesome at this. >> Where's your mommy at? >> Sit next to me if you need to. Okay. >> You said you walked from your car. >> Yeah, because um I fell asleep during it. And then she hasn't been there ever since. But cuz we got there and like kept and then and then my mom said it wouldn't be long and then she after like 5 to 10 minutes she just haven't came back. >> Okay. Where do you live at? >> Um I live on >> Following the girl's directions, police quickly found the car and what they saw was truly horrifying. >> We're going to intercept mom or catch up with mom car. Yeah, we can address. >> You just lead us where the emergency is. Okay. >> For the registered owner, >> I'm with you. Okay. >> Your mom usually leave you in the car by yourself. >> No. >> No. >> Something important. >> Something important. >> Okay. I just want to come with you. Okay. You hold my hand. >> It's okay. Is this your mama's car right here? Or this one right here? >> Yeah. >> This silver one right here? Okay. Yeah, >> it's okay. I'm with you. Okay, you just come. I'm going to be right with you. Okay, you just hold my hand. I'm going to come with you. I'm never going to leave you again. >> Yes, that's my >> That's your seat. >> I'm not going to leave you at all. Okay, I promise you. These guys are just helping us, okay? You tell them anything that you feel like you need to tell them. >> And they found Sky. You found out a phone in there. >> Oh, yeah. >> You left your phone under >> light over there. >> Yeah. >> What is that? >> Yeah. Those are the keys. >> It's the keys. Okay. Do you want to give it to this night? He's going to help us out. Okay. I'm going to stay with you. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Are you okay? >> Are you worried? >> It's okay. It's okay. You hold my hand right here. Okay. I got the key right here in the windshield. >> You tell me you're still worried. Yeah. Tell me. >> So, Alaska Central Intellype >> anything, right? >> Dear, what was the >> get on main and just see us >> if the sheriff's office just Hey, can >> um I know there's a blue house. Can you ask 20 if he can send somebody over to >> Fortunately, the girl was smart, cooperative, and gradually revealed what had happened earlier. You >> are so smart. >> You make me so proud. Okay, they just hang out with me. >> You're doing so good. Okay, these guys are just trying to help us. >> You're doing super. >> Okay, >> you're doing really good. Okay. >> Okay, take hold my hand if you want to. >> She can maybe be in any of these buildings. She walked off to one, but I can't see where because she turned the lights off. >> Okay. Has this ever happened before? >> Um, no. She never leaves the car without me. She said it's something really important. And she said it'll be a real quick, but it hasn't because it was like 5 to 10 minutes. >> Which way did you say she walked? >> I couldn't see because she turned the the lights off every single one. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But you don't remember which way she walked when she left the car? >> No. >> Okay. >> Got some words for your mom when she gets back. You're doing very good, girl. You are very smart. Very good. Okay, just hang out with me. Okay. >> So, do you remember why you came on over here with your mom? Do you remember? >> No, but it wasn't long before I found Skydive Deland and I heard people talking. So, >> what's your mom's name? >> Veronica Bell. >> Veronica. Roxan Bell. >> Roxan Bell. >> Just hang out with me. >> Do you remember why your mom um came over here? >> No. >> No. By this time, the mother was still missing. The police could only care for and reassure the girl, keeping her from sinking into fear. >> And I'm truly all right over there. I'm still with the job. >> You promise? >> I promise. >> She looks just like me, but but more freckles. >> More freckles like me. >> Bravo's 10 on patrol. >> A lot. >> I will always go with you. Okay. I promise. >> All right. Just checking. >> Bless you. >> Thanks. >> That was a good sneeze. You okay? Are you too cold or anything? >> No. >> No, not too cold. >> You're a superstar. >> You're doing awesome, Violet. You're doing so good. You're so smart. >> She's not much taller than you. >> I'm not too much taller than you. >> It could the possible way she could have gone by either one of these problems. >> Mhm. >> Veronica, my name is Matt Salman. I'm a sergeant with the Dan Police Department. I'm out here at >> Hang out with me, okay? These guys are just trying to help us out, okay? You're not scared, right? They're just trying to help us. >> Okay. You're doing so good. >> I was curious if if she walked in that building or these two. >> Yeah. >> You're a curious kid. I like it. I was a curious kid, too. >> Um, there weren't much people around, but I saw that spark. I thought it was just a little car, but now I can see that's a campfire. >> So, the campfire was there when you first got here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But there was only a little bit of it. >> I gotcha. Were you able to see the people around the campfire? No. >> No. >> The bus is blocking it. >> Bus is blocking it. Okie do. >> You're doing so good. >> If she'd walk down here, she would never leave me because this she's never done anything like this before. But that's blocked off so she can't go that way. >> Yeah. >> You feeling okay? >> Yeah. >> You tell us if you're feeling not okay. Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. You would tell me, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Still got a really cool little juice box or apple juice over there. >> Yeah, >> you would tell me, right? You >> got your apple juice waiting. >> You better tell me. And these guys are just trying to help us, right? So, you tell them anything they need to know. Okay. >> She even tried to describe her mother to help the officers. >> I thought that would have been him. >> So, how long ago did this happen? >> 5 to 10 minutes. And then I found skydive to land. I heard people talking. I followed it and I went inside. >> You came to hang out with us, right? Because the car was off completely off minutes. Hour, maybe? >> An hour? >> Maybe. >> Okay. You're thinking more than an hour or less than an hour? >> No, I think right around an hour. I don't think it was a ton more than that. Right around an hour for sure. We got her some food and then it was kind of like >> Yeah, she was living good. >> What do we do? >> Good thing you called. >> Thank you. You doing good? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> You want to hold my hand still? Okay. She has a purse that goes around here and it's like um to here and then she wears it right mostly around here or here. She has her phone in it but she didn't bring her phone right maybe. Was it like pink purple >> like a long sleeved white? >> Long sleeve white >> sleeve white. Was she wearing pants? >> No. >> No. What was she wearing? >> She was wearing a long sleeve shirt and then she wore um she wore some shorts. Or some shorts >> like shorts like me. >> Um yeah, >> like this like little shorts, tight shorts. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And a long sleeve white. >> I know when I I'll see her because she knows >> she's really good at hideand seek. >> You like hide-and-seek? >> Um sometimes. >> Sometimes. >> And even after being abandoned, she firmly said, "Mom has never abandoned me." Defending her mother. >> We'll hang out with you till we find her. Ready? >> Okay. >> I promise you. Okay. >> Do you remember what color her purse is? >> Um, it's like a really dark green with some like tannanish brown like and like this combined. And then then they she has like it's kind of like blue and and then that's it because it's like there's like squares like their rhombuses like that go this way and that's all I can really know about that person. >> Oh my goodness. are so much smarter than me when I was seven. I >> promise. >> Come on now. >> You are very smart. >> I never knew what my mom's job was because I didn't have time to ask it because I said wait, but she she left the car already and then she turned the and then she didn't walk the direction that she turned the lights off. Then she walk off. >> You did everything good. You came to find us. You found me, right? Now we're best buddies. Right. >> You remember my name. >> You do remember my name. I'm going to keep you safe. Okay. >> You doing okay? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You tell me if you need anything. Okay. >> After hours of waiting, around 6:30 a.m., the mother returned to the parking lot to pick up her child. Before the police stood a barefoot woman staggering drunk, mumbling an admission that she had left her child to go drinking. >> Okay. Um, open that as soon as >> Wait, before you send Given the dangerous nature of the incident, police arrested the mother on charges of child neglect. Under Florida law, this offense can carry up to 5 years in prison or probation along with fines of up to $5,000. Nowadays, it's not uncommon for people, including mothers, to turn to alcohol or substances to relieve stress. But before doing so, parents must consider the consequences for their children, both physically and emotionally. Seemingly harmless drops of alcohol can sweep away a child's entire childhood and safety. This is not only a warning to parents, but also a reminder to the whole community. Never take children's safety and future lightly. If you feel these stories need to be widely shared, hit the like button and subscribe to our channel. Don't forget to leave a comment below so we can discuss how to better protect children. See you in the next videos. [Music]