ARIZONA -- A Tempe mother is facing child abuse charges after leaving her children home alone.
Yvette Ayala allegedly left her kids, ages 1, 5, and 7, at her Tempe apartment on Saturday for over five hours.
Yvette Ayala allegedly left her kids, ages 1, 5, and 7, at her Tempe apartment on Saturday for over five hours.
Ayala, 26, and her boyfriend Jeremy Castillo both left home because they had to work, and they didn’t arrange any child care, according to police. They allegedly contacted a neighbor asking her to watch their children, but never heard back.
While the children were home alone, the 5-year-old child was bitten by the family dog, a 1½-year-old pit bull terrier.
The dog bit the child on his cheek and right ear, breaking the skin. The boy then left the apartment by himself, and the apartment manager found him and called 911.
The 5-year-old was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Tempe for treatment or minor injuries.
While the children were home alone, the 5-year-old child was bitten by the family dog, a 1½-year-old pit bull terrier.
The dog bit the child on his cheek and right ear, breaking the skin. The boy then left the apartment by himself, and the apartment manager found him and called 911.
The 5-year-old was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Tempe for treatment or minor injuries.
Ayala later told police her neighbor was watching her children, and allegedly texted her neighbor, asking her to lie and say she was watching them. But the 7-year-old told officers they were home alone and had a bologna sandwich for breakfast.
Faced with these facts, Ayala admitted she left the apartment knowing her children were unsupervised and asked her neighbor to lie to police, authorities say.
"I love my son... I have a lot of people behind me so one little mistake happened and it's her word against mine," she told FOX 10.
Ayala was booked into the Tempe City Jail.
(myfoxphoenix - Feb 21, 2012)
