What started as a noise complaint in a Springfield duplex ended with a mother in handcuffs and three children headed to the hospital. Police say 29-year-old Courtney Lynn Box was arrested after her one-year-old twins and a 4-month-old baby were found alone in a residence for nearly 24 hours.
First responders reported the children were in heavily soiled diapers, and one twin was seen repeatedly banging his head against a wall. Medical staff later diagnosed that child with a closed-head injury and a swollen eye. Prosecutors say Box now faces multiple felony child-endangerment charges.
Police found children after neighbor complained about noise
According to investigators, the case broke open when neighbors called 911 after hearing a loud banging noise coming from Box’s unit for hours. Springfield Fire Department crews responded first, placing a ladder at a window to look inside before entering the duplex.
Inside, officers found roughly one-year-old twins and a nearly 4-month-old baby alone and unattended. Responders noted extensive diaper rash on the children and said they ate and drank quickly when offered food and water. Those details were reported by KY3.
According to the City of Springfield website, GIS mapping of property lines is available on the Greene County Assessor's webpage. The City of Springfield's official site also notes the online tool 'Slate', linked from springfieldmo.gov/rentals, allows property owners to register properties and apply for rental licenses.
Investigators say phone, camera data contradict mother's story
Authorities say Box later told a Children’s Division worker she left the home around 10 a.m. on Jan. 10 to go shopping for her birthday and had arranged for someone else to watch the children. Detectives say the digital trail did not back that up.
As detailed by the New York Post, a detective reviewed Flock camera footage and conducted a court-authorized search of Box’s phone. Investigators say the data showed her phone registering away from the home for roughly 24 hours, and they allegedly found messages arranging drug transactions and photos that appeared to show methamphetamine.
According to MO DMH (.gov), nearly 38,000 Missouri residents were admitted to substance use disorder treatment services from the Missouri Division of Behavioral Health in fiscal year 2022. The agency also reports that during the past 10 years, 27% of the 56,662 out-of-home placements have involved parental drug abuse and 8% have involved parental alcohol abuse. According to the Missouri Department of Social Services' Children's Division, during SFY23 the division completed 61,712 reports of child abuse/neglect involving 86,088 children.
Medical evaluation found injuries and developmental concerns
All three children were taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital for evaluation. Medical records and a review by the Child Advocacy Center documented extensive diaper rash that doctors said was consistent with prolonged exposure to soiled diapers.
Staff diagnosed one twin with a closed-head injury and noted speech delays in both twins. Investigators say the Child Advocacy Center concluded the children’s histories and behaviors were highly consistent with child maltreatment. Those findings were reported by KY3.
Charges, plea and possible penalties
Court records show Box was charged on July 8 with three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of neglect or abuse of a child. According to court filings, she has pleaded not guilty.
Under Missouri law, those offenses are classified as Class D felonies and can carry sentences of up to seven years in prison, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes.
Local support and how to report concerns
Local child-safety advocates say cases like this underscore the importance of crisis resources for families who feel overwhelmed. Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery, cited in local reporting, operates 24/7 to provide emergency childcare and family support in the Springfield area.
For anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected, the Greene County prosecutor’s reporting page and the Missouri Children’s Division offer guidance on how to file a report and where to seek help.
Box remains in custody, and the case is pending in Greene County. Prosecutors say they are continuing to review evidence as the matter moves through court and are asking anyone with additional information to contact local law enforcement or the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.
