A Manteca Police Department Facebook post included an update.
Police initially asked the community for help locating the boy's parents or guardian after he was discovered alone on the hotel property.
Police Say They've Identified the Boy's Mother
In an update posted Sunday afternoon, the department said it had identified the child's parent and was working to reunite the boy with his mother.
The department's update was headed “UPDATE Thank you to the...” .
What Remains Unclear
California does not set a specific age at which a child may be left alone; state child-services guidance says supervision decisions depend on factors such as a child’s maturity, the setting’s hazards, the length of time alone and whether another responsible adult is accessible. Separately, Penal Code section 273a addresses willfully placing a child in circumstances where the child’s health may be endangered, with the potential charge depending in part on the risk involved. The published facts do not establish that any crime occurred in this case. County child-services guidance outlines the supervision factors.
Key details of the incident have not been made public. It is not confirmed whether the reunification with the child's mother was completed, nor has the department released the identities of the child, his mother, or anyone connected to the hotel where he was found.
