http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/09/30/toddler.alone.ap/index.html
Toddler survives three weeks alone on ketchup, dry pasta
Tuesday, September 30, 2003 Posted: 6:55 AM EDT (1055 GMT)
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) -- A 2-year-old left alone for nearly three weeks while her mother was behind bars survived by eating mustard, ketchup, rice and raw pasta, police said.
The toddler was watching cartoons when found by her father, police said Monday. She was suffering from malnutrition and was being treated at Wolfson Children's Hospital, police said.
Dakeysha Lee, 22, was charged Monday with child abuse because she didn't let anyone know that her daughter was alone in her apartment, police said. She was jailed Sept. 10 on unrelated charges.
Ogden Lee, who is separated from the girl's mother, said he talked to her by telephone at the jail Sunday and she said their daughter was with neighbors.
When he got into the apartment, the youngster had dragged food and toys into her mother's bedroom and was lying in a baby's bathtub. She was covered with dried ketchup, Lee said.
"She grabbed me and wouldn't let go of me," Lee said. "It is really a miracle how good a shape my daughter is in. I don't know how she did it."
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
im appalled at the mom for NOT even telling anyone she left the toddler alone and lying to family members saying shes with neighbors while she was locked up but wow the the child is amazing and she managed to survive til her dad found her
Toddler survives three weeks alone on ketchup, dry pasta
Tuesday, September 30, 2003 Posted: 6:55 AM EDT (1055 GMT)
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) -- A 2-year-old left alone for nearly three weeks while her mother was behind bars survived by eating mustard, ketchup, rice and raw pasta, police said.
The toddler was watching cartoons when found by her father, police said Monday. She was suffering from malnutrition and was being treated at Wolfson Children's Hospital, police said.
Dakeysha Lee, 22, was charged Monday with child abuse because she didn't let anyone know that her daughter was alone in her apartment, police said. She was jailed Sept. 10 on unrelated charges.
Ogden Lee, who is separated from the girl's mother, said he talked to her by telephone at the jail Sunday and she said their daughter was with neighbors.
When he got into the apartment, the youngster had dragged food and toys into her mother's bedroom and was lying in a baby's bathtub. She was covered with dried ketchup, Lee said.
"She grabbed me and wouldn't let go of me," Lee said. "It is really a miracle how good a shape my daughter is in. I don't know how she did it."
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
im appalled at the mom for NOT even telling anyone she left the toddler alone and lying to family members saying shes with neighbors while she was locked up but wow the the child is amazing and she managed to survive til her dad found her
Thank goodness she survived!
.. Thanks god! I am glad that kid is allright. I cant believe that mom left her alone. That is very WRONG! geez! I would not do that to my kids if I have kids in the future uh uh huh!! I hope she is in good and safe place now. Whew!
