Authorities say a Cincinnati mother landed in court Tuesday after police found her three young children allegedly left alone for hours at the Fay Apartments. One child was discovered outside the complex, and the kids are just 4, 2, and 1 years old, according to police.
Police arrested 27-year-old Vatavia Sykes and charged her with child endangerment. She is being held on $1,000 bond. Officers said the children were left unattended for several hours at the Fay Apartments and that one child was found outside, as reported by WKRC.
How Ohio Law Treats Child Endangerment
Ohio’s endangering-children statute makes it a crime for a parent or caregiver to create a substantial risk to a child’s health or safety by violating a duty of care. The Ohio Revised Code lays out penalties that can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the circumstances and what ultimately happens to the child, per Ohio Revised Code §2919.22.
Court Appearance and Attorney Comment
Sykes appeared in court Tuesday, where her attorney told WKRC she is about 34 weeks pregnant with twins. She remains in custody, and the case is pending.
Local Reporting Shows Related Cases
May arrest after toddlers found alone and a 2024 stove fire with kids alone reported by WLWT are among recent cases that highlight ongoing child-safety investigations across the city. Those incidents, which ranged from short periods of unsupervised care to alleged neglect, show why prosecutors and child-welfare officials are closely scrutinizing similar situations.
What's Next
Prosecutors will review the arrest, and court scheduling will follow as the case moves through the system. Cincinnati police and child-welfare agencies did not immediately release further details about the investigation.
