Your little one's trying to eat the tree there. >> She started crying and they gave her to me. I said she was fine to cry. >> These are scenes that would chill anyone to the bone. First, let's begin with the shocking story in New Mexico. >> Your little one's trying to eat the tree there. >> She started crying and they gave her to me. I said she was fine to cry. On August 8th, 2024, police received a frantic call from mother April Elliot, claiming that her 5-month-old daughter was being kept from her by neighbors. But when officers arrived, they quickly realized this was more than a custody dispute. It revealed alarming signs of neglect and abuse. >> Are you April? >> Yes. >> Okay. What's going on, April? >> She started crying and they gave her to me. I said she was fine to cry. She can [ __ ] cry. She's a kid. She's only 5 months old. I lightly motion her blanket and I dropped her is what they claimed. And I didn't just throw her. I just She was fine. >> Let me get some Let me get some info real quick. April, >> I tried to take her from me. I said, "No, leave her. I got into a screaming pouch. I got told I want to [ __ ] punch you. You're a piece of mom. You're a bad mom. You don't change her. You don't do nothing for her. And all I wanted to do, I said I would [ __ ] leave. >> Okay. April, what's your last name? >> Elliot. >> And what's baby's name? >> Stevie. Elliot. >> Ste. >> Stevie. >> S T E. >> The incident stemmed from conflicts between April, the homeowner, and other housemates. They accused her of leaving the baby crying for hours and on one occasion even throwing the infant onto a bed. When checked, the poor baby was found wrapped in a thick coat in 1994 degree of heat with no milk or water and had even resorted to chewing on tree bark. >> Okay. >> Your little one's trying to eat the tree there. >> She's cheating. >> Okay. >> Whose house did all this happen at? >> The landlord. >> And And are you related to the landlord or just friends or what's what's going >> I don't know what the to call it. >> What's the landlord's name? Luna Fernandez. >> She was an acquaintance or friend before. >> I don't know what you want to label it. >> How long were you staying there? >> I was told you're supposed to stay this weekend. >> You're biological mom of Stevie, correct? Hi, little one. Hi. So, where are you headed to? Do you have somewhere you can stay? >> Yeah, but it's in town. >> Like in in >> Papa Miller, Mike Archela's shop is where I was headed. >> And do you have somebody to come pick you up? >> Turn off the Wi-Fi where I could go call somebody to come get us cuz they want me to [ __ ] struggle. And what house did this happen at? >> Where everybody's standing out at where the other officer's at. >> And down at where you're going to go, do they have stuff that I mean, is it like >> I have all of our stuff. I'm trying to get into the park so I can meet you guys there. >> Technically, I'm not even supposed to be up here. >> How come you're not supposed to be up here? >> My house. I've been evicted from my house. >> Okay. Okay. And you don't have a phone or you have a Wi-Fi phone, but you don't have a phone to call somebody? Do you know somebody you can call? >> I don't have anything on me. It's all over there. >> So, you do have your phone. You just don't have it on you, correct? >> Yeah. >> Do you know somebody's phone number you can call and I can let you use my phone? >> If I find my phone. >> Okay. But that may take a minute. >> Yeah. Because Linda threw my [ __ ] out before I could find everything and make sure I had everything. She threw it all out. Or before I could in a in their bag got thrown. I'm tired of being I'm tired of hearing [ __ ] Why? Help me if you think I'm so [ __ ] selfish and useless. I help >> I pretend. >> April, we're away from that. Okay. >> I understand, right? Nobody's trying to change that. Okay. But we're away from that bad situation right now. Okay. So, let's capitalize on that. You want to go down on Miller Street? >> Okay, then we're going to focus on getting you there. Okay. Is where you're going is it baby friendly? Like whoever's house it is. gets the shop where I was supposed to be there this weekend to clean it all out so they could all leave for Vegas and I'm not there. So, I had some money for us to have for the week. >> Do you feel like it's it's an okay place to keep the baby? Is baby's dad involved at all or? >> No. >> Okay. >> Adrien Lucero is actually got a DNA warrant for his arrest. A warrant for his DNA. Car was taped the up the other day. He left us in his car for 2 and 1/2 hours. >> Do you have any other children, April? >> I have five. She's the only one in my care right now. I was so close to getting the other three back in my care, but no. >> Throughout her interaction with police, Elliot cried and made excuses, constantly shifting blame to avoid responsibility. But neighbors told a very different story. >> What happened? So, April, she used to be one of our residents. Linda felt bad because she's homeless right now with the baby and sometimes we take care of the baby. So, Linda said, "You stay at the house. Just don't do date with the baby. Be a mom. The first night she stayed out till 5:00 cuz we had the baby yesterday. She slept all day. And then today, the baby was crying on the little chair cuz she was wet. And so we told her, "Come get your baby." So we could hear her screaming from the kitchen in the room way over there. Acted like I was going to the bathroom. I didn't hear the baby. And then I heard her like scream bloody murder. So I walked in there. She had the baby like this and the bed. And then so I told her, I was like, "Let me have the baby." I was like, "Obviously." and she was like, "No, no, you're not hitting my baby." So, I went to go grab her and she's like, "Nope." And she's on leaving. And then Linda and Rachel went in there and then I took off into the living room and Rachel went reached for the baby and she would just grab her from this side, swing her across to the other side. So, I held her hands down and I said, "Just calm down. Let them calm the baby down cuz the baby was screaming." And I said, "Just calm down." And she goes, "I'm the out of here." And I told her, "You need to calm down." I was holding her hands down and I said, "You want out of here?" I started grabbing her bags and I threw them out on my porch. I said, "Then get the [ __ ] out of here." I said, "Because the deal was she took care of the baby. I stayed sober." So, Friday night they told her, "You know what? You get rest because of everything that happened Friday from the heat for being out there in 2 hours. Her dad left her. >> They took the baby. I told her take a shower and you can calm down, relax tonight. They have the baby. Calls for a ride." And that was my first rule. don't bring any to my house. So, I don't know where she met him, but she left. Came back Saturday morning at 5:00 in the morning. And I was like, you were supposed to get rest, not be out, probably getting pregnant again. And I told her, you can't keep your kids. You need to take care of what you have now. I said, right now, you're not being mother. I said, you're being a I told her what I thought. So, that's why she told everybody. They told me I'm no good and that I'm a piece of [ __ ] And I was like, well, when she started, I'm out of here. And I was like, well, I can't keep the baby. But they calm the baby down. They raise the baby every 4 days. They have the baby. >> How old baby? >> 5 months. >> 5 months. Okay. So, her older one got taken away, I'm assuming. >> This is her sixth kid and she has no custody besides this one, which she gave me insurance cards. I have her social. The only thing I don't have of the babies is the birth certificate because she can't she can't find it. >> This officer, she's in training. She's going to get you guys' name and she's homeless, so she has nowhere to go. >> I have to be nice. I gave her the car seat and instead of like putting the baby to help her carry it, she's kicking it down the road. I have a video of her doing it. >> Most of her stuff's right there. Some of it's right there, but she had the baby on her back in a jacket >> swinging around. I recorded for like 5 minutes. >> So when you said like she was in there and she had the baby. >> No, she was like swinging around. >> How far up from where she was? Like how high does the bed? >> Oh, the bed's right here and the baby is right >> at least a foot. >> I mean it's a bed but it's a 5 month. >> Yeah. Let me start with you. Okay. The first lady. Do you know of any family that >> No, her dad just died. She has no family. >> She has nobody here. I'm washing my hands of her. Trespass her from here. >> We'll get her trespass. We'll go from there and figure out. Honestly, baby's probably going to come with us. Just so you guys are aware. >> If she didn't give us permission, we would take her, but I don't think after this. >> Not saying obviously she's mom, but >> she's already got her other five, six kids taken away. I think >> and I think she's pregnant again. I said you're like fertile myrtle. They spit on you and you end up pregnant. I said, "You can't even take care of what you have, and you keep bringing these kids in the world." I said, "You need to get fixed. It's against my religion." Drugs, is it? >> Thank you guys. I appreciate it. Yeah. >> The homeowner said they had repeatedly warned Elliot not to bring drugs into the house. A mother still entangled with drugs cannot care for a child, only forcing that child to suffer the consequences. Even more disturbing, investigators discovered Elliot had already lost custody of five previous children. Yet with the sixth, the same tragedy repeated. This was no longer mere weakness. It was a cycle of repeated irresponsibility. In the end, April Elliot was handcuffed and arrested on charges of child abuse. Her 5-month-old daughter was removed from the toxic environment and placed in the care of child protective services for safety. In Georgia, another urgent report exposed a situation that forced police to act immediately. >> Are you ever scared of your mom? >> Yeah. >> Why? >> She still thinks that I'm going to run off somewhere. >> We're not going to run off. Okay, >> don't hold me. I got broken bones and God. Come on. >> On July 7th, 2024, officers were dispatched to an apartment complex after an emergency call. A young girl accused her mother of injuring her simply because she wanted to keep some distance. When officers arrived, the mother hurriedly gave a string of explanations, insisting her daughter suffered from epilepsy and that her behavior was merely a result of the illness. >> Hi, >> somebody call police on me. Yeah, I figured I was going to call myself because my daughter will not come out of the bushes and I got two babies up here. I'm babysitting, but I can't leave up there. But she's got she's got an epilepsy problem. Okay. So, she's got she's got a lot of brain damage. >> Call whoever you want to to confirm this. This is what she does because she sees specialists and Sorry, I'm stressed out. >> Just take a breath. >> She sees specialists and stuff for her mental her brain during stuff like that. This >> is what she does when she's about to have a major seizure. >> Okay. >> But I can't leave these kids up here alone. So, I keep going back and forth and it's tripping me up because >> Do I need to call >> my boyfriend is their grandfather and he like left to go get her seizure medicine. He hasn't come back. >> Okay. Do I need to call um the ambulance to come check her out? >> No, because she she probably will be okay cuz he's got supposed to be here with her medicine. It's not that she showed any other signs other than she's been doing a lot better in the last few days, but I don't think so. I mean, I know to call them if I have to because I've had to do it 100 times before. I got to go check on these. Can you watch her for a second? I mean, I don't know what to do. I can't see these babies up here. >> Yeah. I mean, if you can I need you to come right back. >> I'm gonna bring them down here with me. Okay. Can you grab your ID, too, please? >> No, I don't think I got it. >> But those excuses were quickly contradicted by nearby witnesses. >> Let me figure out how to come around you. >> Do you want me to go back upstairs? I was on the phone the whole time. >> What? What's going on? >> So, you know, my brother came and, you know, came by the house. He said, "There's a little girl outside." I'm like, "Little girl outside?" And she, you know, she stooped down or what's now? So, I just went outside because I was concerned cuz I don't know who it is. >> Yeah, of course. She stood down. She was sobbing. She was crying. She was, you know, she she's talking, but she's >> trembling like she's terrified. >> Okay. She was all by herself. >> All by herself. The way how she spoke is, you know, she's getting a in the house. >> Long story short, her mother came outside searching for her. Because you're hearing >> Yeah. >> That's what And you heard it. >> Of course. >> Okay. I'm the one that came upstairs. >> I'm going to beat her. >> That's what she said. >> Let me tell you why I called. >> When she was halfway up the stairs, she saw me and her cousin with her. She went back downstairs in her apartment. >> Okay. >> You know, she didn't come up for her. >> Okay. >> She came up. She asked me if I see her. I said no. Even situation. >> Yeah. Of course. um within her walking I >> The girl was then separated to give her own account. >> That's okay. Are you okay? >> No, not really. >> Okay, we're going to have some nice people come check you out just to make sure you're okay. All right. >> Okay. >> Do you want a hug? >> What? >> Do you want a hug? >> Are you saying hide or hike? >> No. Do you want a hug? >> A hug? >> A hug? Yes. >> Okay. Come here. >> It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. My name's Kayla and I'm going to help you. Okay. >> Do you feel okay right now? >> No. >> Okay. What's wrong? >> I mean, right now, I don't really want to myself. That's pretty much only when I get mad. That's I only feel that way when I get mad. But it is about sadness. >> Okay. What are all these scratches on you? >> That's from my dead dog. He always likes to rustle with me. >> Okay. It's from your dog. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Your mom said you have seizures sometimes. Do you feel like you're going to have one right now or? >> No. >> No. Okay. Can I see your arms real quick? So, what happened? Did you come run to the bushes by yourself or what happened? It started out on the stairs, but then I heard my mom and then when she found me and and left me for a minute, I ran to the bushes where where she couldn't get me by the arm. She got she got me by the arm and dragged me. >> She did? Let me see your arm. Where did she drag you from? Where on your arm? >> Right here. >> Okay. All right. Can I get you to stand up? Do you think you can do that for me? Come here. Do you think you can walk over here for me? Or do you want to walk that way? >> I want to walk this way. Okay. >> I don't want to be in front of people right now. >> That's okay. Does anything hurt? >> It hurts right here and right here from when I was bended. >> Okay. That's it, though? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Hello. >> So, she didn't have a seizure. Just >> No. Um her mom said sometimes when she's going to have one though, she goes and hides and she was in the bushes. So, I mean, I don't go and hide anymore. I used to. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But now I just when I break, I just go sit somewhere close to where I am. >> Okay. >> And that's what I did. What I did, I went to sit by the steps >> for a little break. >> Okay. >> And she's still got to follow the rules. >> Okay. They're just going to look at your arms like I did. Okay. >> I go out there and she's gone again. So, I mean, I'm like, what am I going to do? I can't leave this here. And I see her know I can have a panic attack, which I'm diagnosed with. saying, "Oh, I'm supposed to be on medication, but I don't take it." But >> um freaking It scares me when she does that. So, I start to try to threaten her. I'm like, "If you don't get down here, you're going to make it worse. It's going to get worse because it will get worse. Everybody's going to get more angry." >> Uh-huh. >> I'm like, "Oh, I'm going to bet you." She knows that I like do not I don't think I've ever whooped her ever. >> Did you like grab her in any way? >> Yeah, cuz Yeah. Yeah. I was trying to I was trying to get her arms off the um the rails of the stairs so she would go in. Okay. She's trying to run upstairs. I've had a wreck recently, so I am not able to chase her at all. I can't. I used to be able. She's fast. Yeah. >> Did it hurt or did she say anything? Like >> she didn't say it hurt or anything. I mean, she just fights really hard cuz she's freakishly strong. >> Okay. >> Her statement aligned with the witnesses while the mother continued to deny and deflect blame. The consistency between the girl's words and external testimony clearly revealed the mother's attempt to conceal the truth and evade responsibility. Faced with such clear evidence, police immediately handcuffed the mother on the spot. The girl was placed in the custody of her grandparents for safety. The mother has since been charged with child neglect and remains in custody, awaiting trial. Finally, the incident in a residential neighborhood on June 1st that escalated matters to an even more alarming level. >> Is this your kid? >> No. Some lady come up here in our yard about 20 minutes 30 minutes to say a word and then she just took off and walked walked off. >> What happened? >> At around 2:30 p.m., police received an emergency call from a local family. A little boy had been brought to their yard by his mother and then abandoned. By the time officers arrived, the child was soaked and covered in scratches. He was quickly taken for medical evaluation to ensure his safety. >> Come here. What are you doing? What's wrong, baby? >> You're hurt. Can you go ahead and have EMS 1051 to evaluate? He's consular breathing. He says his tummy hurts and that it looks like he's pretty scraped up pretty bad. >> This was the woman who had abandoned him. >> What's your name? >> Hie. Yeah. >> Uh, what happened? Like why? Why >> on these people's yard? >> Yeah. Uh >> here. >> You what? >> Here. >> You thought You thought I was here, so you dropped them off. That was at work. He just showed up a couple minutes ago. Do you hear me? Okay. >> Yeah. >> When questioned, the mother gave evasive, contradictory answers, showing clear avoidance. Her indifference revealed something chilling. She seemed utterly unconcerned for her own child's well-being. >> The that's the only reason why take anything today. >> Sure. >> What was your plan? Like he was here, right? How old is he? Did you you bring him inside or you knock on the door or anything like that? >> No. >> Oh, is that how you usually drop him off or was that something that was kind of unusual for you today? We It didn't make a lot of sense to us. So, I'm just trying to ask some questions so we can understand. Help us understand like what you were thinking and what was going on so we can work through this. You know, that's all we want to do is work through this. >> You having problems today? Something we can help with maybe. >> So, what exactly happened? >> She said in the yard said he got a hold of our water hose and was spraying the trailer. So I come out and see what's going on with this little boy out here and they just >> in the yard and she want to talk to me is fine. >> So I called my wife and said maybe you could talk to her. >> Y'all don't know this lady at all? >> No. I ain't the first I've ever seen her. >> Where where did she just walked up and left the kid? >> Okay. So did they tell you what's going on? >> No. They she left him outside or something. >> She walked him down here and walked away. She left him with this random gentleman and left and they tried to get her to take him and she wouldn't take him. >> Do you know why that would happen? >> No, I don't. >> Is this common normal? >> No. No. This ain't this is the first time ever. >> Cuz obviously it's pretty concerning. He's saying his stomach's hurting and he's >> he's saying he looks pretty like his legs are like pretty red. Like he might have a rash from wherever he's been. He's soaked. >> Oh yeah. >> To the brim. Okay. >> They tried to yell at her and was like, "Ma'am, ma'am." And she didn't even stop. Yeah. >> Is there a way I can call my parents? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to let you call your parent. They are the legal guardians. Go ahead and do me a favor. Go ahead and call them. Where are they coming from? >> It is almost unimaginable that a mother could so casually hand her child to strangers. Such an act not only shows blatant irresponsibility, but also exposes the child to severe danger. In the end, the mother was handcuffed and taken away, facing charges of child neglect. She is now being held in custody awaiting trial. While the boy has been placed in the care of his grandparents. From these three cases, one truth becomes clear. Parental neglect or irresponsibility does not only destroy a child's childhood, it can also push them to the very edge of life and death. Physical wounds may eventually heal, but the psychological scars can last a lifetime. This stands as a stern reminder that every act of neglect comes with a price, and the law will show no leniency toward those who strip children of their right to safety.