Greenwood mother arrested after child found alone in diaper near creek

GREENWOOD, Ind. — A Greenwood mother was arrested Tuesday after her 5-year-old child was found walking near a creek, wearing only a diaper.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, just before 4 p.m., officers and firefighters were dispatched to the Winterbrook mobile home community, located off of West County Line Road, on the report of a child found near a creek.

A deputy found a 5-year-old child walking into brush adjacent to the creek, wearing nothing but a diaper. First responders evaluated and cared for the child while officials spent over an hour knocking on doors and speaking with residents to try to find the child’s parents. Officers also made repeated announcements over patrol vehicle public-address systems and activated their sirens to draw attention.

At approximately 5:06 p.m., one sergeant returned to a residence where officials had previously knocked. After several minutes, the child’s mother, 29-year-old Amber Allee, answered the door and told officers she had a young child.

Allee then checked the child’s bedroom, and discovered the child was missing.

Allee told investigators she put her child in the bedroom for a nap sometime between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then went to sleep herself. She stated she was sleeping until she was awakened by the deputy knocking and said she had not heard earlier knocking, sirens, or announcements.

Police found an open bedroom window without a screen and items belonging to the child outside the window. The investigation also identified concerns regarding supervision, the child’s care, and precautions to prevent the child from leaving the residence, according to police.

The Indiana Department of Child Services responded to the scene.

Allee was arrested and taken to the Johnson County Jail on an allegation of neglect of a dependent, a low-level felony.

White River Fire Department personnel also fitted the child with a Project Lifesaver device to assist with locating the child in the event of a future disappearance.

About The Author

See author's posts