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Parents Accused Of Leavings Kids Home Alone While Partying

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Jan. 3 - KGO (KGO) -- San Ramon police are investigating the case of two young children, left home alone while their parents went to Las Vegas to ring in the new year. The boys are now with their grandmother. Their father and step-mother still haven't made it home.

Police found 10-year-old Joshua and his 5-year-old autistic brother Jason home alone and asleep in their beds after their maternal grandmother called. She had asked officers to check on them. She was afraid the parents had gone to Las Vegas and left the kids behind.

Libbey Holden, grandmother: "What parent in their right mind would do that."

The grandmother says the boys' father and step-mother had asked her to watch them so they could go to Vegas, but she told them she wouldn't be able to. They told her they couldn't find anyone else to take care of them.

Libbey Holden: "I said, 'why don't you take the boys with you?' She said, 'because we are newlyweds and we work hard and deserve a break."

Police got into the house through an unlocked second floor sliding glass door late Saturday night. They say the gas fireplace was on and the boys were safe. But they had been there by themselves since Friday.

Sgt. Brian Kalinowski, San Ramon Police Dept.: "The 5-year-old who has a medical condition and the 9-year-old were okay physically and indicated to the officers they ate cereal for breakfast and frozen meals for lunch and dinner."

Police say the children acted as if this has happened before, and the grandmother says it has.

Investigators left several messages for the parents on their cell phone over the weekend, but didn't hear back from them for two days. They finally called Monday night to say they are still in Las Vegas.

Sgt. Kalinowski: "Regardless of the 5-year-old's medical condition, it is inappropriate to leave any children ages five and nine alone."

The family's next door neighbor says the couple never contacted her about watching or checking on the kids.

Charlene Samson, next door neighbor: "Oh my God, I didn't know that. There was no one home? Oh my God, because I would just see the kids playing outside so I thought there was someone home."

Libbey Holden: "They are perfect parents for dogs, not for Joshua and Jason."

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