Raven Yates is accused of abandoning her 12-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son to fend for themselves for several weeks before anyone realized they were home alone.
A Montgomery County mother, who was accused of leaving her two young children alone for weeks, was apprehended on Wednesday, according to Roman Forest police.
Raven Yates, who is 31 years old, has yet to complete the legal procedures in Alabama before being brought to Montgomery County to answer charges. Detectives had been looking for Yates since December. According to Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle, a US Marshals taskforce had to forcefully enter an older man’s apartment and break down the bedroom door to locate her.
In a report from FOX 26 Houston in November 2022, officials said a concerned father had informed the authorities that his 12-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son had been left home alone without regular access to food or medical supplies since September 28th.
The father discovered that his children were alone at home when his ex-mother-in-law informed him Yates was in Mobile without her children. He realized something was wrong when his daughter requested him to send food regularly, claiming that Yates was “working.” Upon learning this, he quickly flew to Texas from California, where he was employed.
Yates allegedly abandoned her children at their residence located on Maplewood Ridge Drive. According to investigators, Yates warned her daughter that her father would take her away and leave her younger brother behind if she disclosed the situation to others.
Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Yates. The police mentioned that Yates had been posting about the incident, which helped to generate leads and tips to locate her. Acting on a tip, authorities went to an apartment in Mobile, where the manager confirmed that Yates was residing with a man. On Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. local time, the friend allowed the authorities to enter the apartment, and Yates was arrested.
“She was photographed in handcuffs with a full smile on her face and seemingly unbothered by the charges against her for allegedly putting her own children in danger,” Carlisle said. “I don’t know if she was playing a part or whatever it is, but she, I think, was playing for the camera. She wanted to have a smile. She wanted to look good. The arresting officer reportedly said she asked about putting lipstick on before the photo was taken.”
According to the Roman Forest police, Yates is facing charges of abandoning and endangering two children with no intention of returning. She is presently in the custody of the Mobile Police Department and waiting to be extradited back to Montgomery County, Texas.
Meanwhile, the children are safe and under the care of a relative in Alabama.