Home Alone: Police Say 6-Year-Old Boy Left To Fend For Himself
The child's mother, whom police could not reach by cell phone for two hours, was charged with leaving her frightened son alone.
Neighbors who saw a small, crying boy wandering into and out of a Madison Street apartment building called the law and led the cops to collaring the kid's mom on a charge of endangering the life or health of a child, Joliet police said.
Grace Lucio, 27, of 206 Madison St., was taken into custody after officers finally got a hold of her by phone and convinced her to come down to the police station.
The neighbors first alerted the police about noon Tuesday and told them about the distressed child. Officers arrived and knocked on the door of an apartment neighbors saw the boy enter. The officers reportedly found the child alone inside.
The boy had celebrated his sixth birthday just two days prior. The police said they located a note from his mother telling him there was a sandwich and chips in the refrigerator, that he should play or watch television, and that she would be home later.
Officers called Lucio repeatedly over the course of about two hours, police said, and left her voicemail messages.
When Lucio finally called back, she agreed to go to the station, police said. She was arrested and the state's Department of Children and Family Services was called in to investigate the matter.
Lucio was released on her own recognizance.
The police did not say where Lucio went when she left her son alone.
Sheila Raddatz
7:40 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
This happens more than everyone realizes.....it is SAD!
lala
8:39 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
It sure does. That mother should be thankful her neighbors were more concerned about her child than she was. It could have ended tragically.
Greg D
11:53 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012
I like the fact the neighbor did notice and called Police. Most would not get involved.I would bet it happens more often then anyone would realize.
Divette
12:29 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
I feel for a lot of mothers out there that might be raising their child or children on their own. But, this is no excuse what so ever. We don't know where she was or what she was doing... But regardless of what ever the situation was... She should know that a six year old should never under any circumstances be left alone. And yes, I totally agree with the above comments. Thank God there's still good neighbors out there! I would have done the same thing. SMH
Concerned (NL)
6:27 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
This makes me ill, just thinking about this little guy all alone. Why would she do this to her son? All these stories - why do these women have kids if they don't want to take care of them?
Mzsophisticated1
9:01 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
I am taking care of my kids alone but I would never leave mine alone. Mine can be left alone for a couple of hours he is a teenager but the key thing is there is so much going on in this world. I don't trust him being alone at all. But she should ary least tried to find a babysitter the poor child can't take care hisself she knew better than that. If she didn't want him she should have gave him to someone who would have taken better care of him.
Flora Dora
11:50 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
I hope this helps her understand her responsibility to her little boy.
John Roberts
9:41 am on Monday, July 23, 2012
It is sad but it's all in the mind set,today's world bans it, history tells us kids were left to farm fields,raise cattle,and care for younger siblings..We as a society have sheltered our kids into a routine,but watch the documentary "which way home" kids 8 & 9 hoping on a train riding on top of it for day's hopping from train to train crossing the boarder into the U.S.....At 6 kids were already working in the fields plowing with a horse that he hitched up himself...Kids in the city today are not raised to take care of them selves, my kids started to do dishes,laundry,cook & clean at 6 being told you should be proud we are trusting you to wash the dishes we put into our mouths and that we tought you your family can get sick in an unclean environment....My 17 year old daughter was the ONLY kid in her Joliet Central class to raise her hand when the class was asked how many kids do dishes,laundry,cook....Her teacher called me to tell me this...not my daughter...
MM
3:37 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
I had a couple of neighbors whom not only left their 5 year old to fend for himself most nights, their kitchen caught fire after he cooked eggs or bacon on the stove!! The couple would also take him with them to their favorite watering hole and leave him in the van while they partied. The police and fire personnel would be at their home nearly every week for some problem or another, and their boy was at our house a lot, playing with my boys and basically feeling safer at our house than at his own. That was sad.
brownsuga
10:46 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Some women are just nuts, they will go to a boyfriends house or gambling at the casino or going grocery shopping. Taking out the garbage or running out to the car is that ok to do. Your life can change forever in a blink of an eye.