An Ohio mother is facing a possible six-month jail sentence after leaving her three children unsupervised while she traveled to Miami. Domonique Knowles, 32, opted to accompany a friend undergoing liposuction instead of caring for her kids, according to WSVN. She took her youngest child with her but left the others, including one child of 10 and seven-year-old twins with special needs, alone in their Ohio residence.
Knowles's decision was revealed when the eldest child told their teacher about talking to their mom through a camera the night before, leading the teacher to notify the authorities. "She kind of reported to her teacher that she talked to mom on the camera last night and that mom ordered them Uber Eats and left it at the door," a police officer disclosed, as reported by WSVN. The subsequent welfare check by police revealed the children's situation and Knowles's absence.
The children's living conditions were distressing. Officers found a messy apartment with hazards like a slippery floor, which caused one of the twin girls to slip and fall. The prosecuting attorney, Michael Maloney, expressed his shock over the case, saying, "Mom lied to her mother. There were adults that were available to help out," according to a statement he made to WDBJ7. It was also noted that there was an unlocked patio door, increasing the risk to the children who were left without adult supervision.
When confronted with evidence of her travel, Knowles revised her story, leading to her arrest and conviction on child endangerment charges. "She lied. We have pretty good technology and pretty trained detectives. They showed her leaving Hopkins Airport, timed the calls showing mom at an airport in Miami and when mom was confronted with that, she changed her story and said something about having to be in Miami because her friend needed liposuction surgery," Maloney explained to WSVN. Knowles will stand before a judge for sentencing, where she could face up to six months imprisonment for her actions.
