A US woman has been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of her children, after leaving them alone at home while she drove to collect a takeaway.
Susan L. Terrillion, of Maryland, was reported to police after leaving the eight-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl alone in a holiday home, while she drove the 8KM to the restaurant.
According to reports, she was gone for a total of 45 minutes.
The report was filed after a man encountered the two children, whose dogs had run out in front of his vehicle. After helping the children to get the dogs back under control, he enquired after their parents, only to learn that their mum was out picking up the food.
Police arrived on the scene shortly after, and the 55-year-old mother was arrested and charged. She was later released on bail.
While no further details have been released, authorities confirmed that neither the children nor the dogs were harmed.
Under local law, in Maryland, a child must be at least eight years old to be left unsupervised in a house. There is, however, a further provision stating that a child must be at least 13 to babysit another.
What are your thoughts on the action taken against this mother?
