A Chickamauga, Ga., woman was charged after she dropped off her 2-year-old daughter in a ditch in Ringgold, Ga., near a children’s park Tuesday evening.
When 31-year-old Jennifer Haines was later questioned she told police she was addicted to prescription drugs and could no longer take care of her daughter, a police report shows.
Haines told police she left the child near the playground hoping a “nice family would find her and care for her,” the report states.
Haines was arrested and charged with reckless conduct causing harm or endangerment, contributing to child deprivation, cruelty to children 2nd degree and possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce.
Several drivers called Ringgold police when they spotted the toddler walking down LaFayette Street in only shorts and a diaper around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the report states. It was raining and the temperature was in the upper 50s at the time.
When the toddler tripped and fell in the mud and began to cry several cars stopped and someone wrapped the child in a blanket waiting for police to arrive, the report states.
Police found Haines at a nearby house, where she said she went to watch and see if someone would pick up her daughter, the report states.
The child was placed in a foster care and Haines was taken to Catoosa County Jail.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
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Worthless trash doesn't deserve that child, Find another way to have someone else care for them than to leave them in a ditch in the cold and rain with little or no clothes on. Good heavens I hope this child finds a family that will take care of her.
What will happen is some cry baby softee Judge will give the child back to this trash,after the D.A./Prosecuter/refuse to follow through with the case, since they all are 2nd rate officials.
We have a real Good Samaritan out there somewhere and no one has said a word about him/her.
Thank you, Good Samaritan. You, sir or madam, represent America's finest ideals. Holding and caring for a lost and lonely child...a rare thing in this strange and twisted nation we have become.
Hopefully, the little girl will find something more than a foster home...a loving home with a family that cares about little children. Who knows, she may become a "Stephanie" Jobs.
How horrible. If you don't want your child any more that is fine, I'll take her and so will most everyone else in the world. Just don't abandon her outdoors to fend for herself. Makes me sick just thinking about this. I'm just glad the child is alive today.
Rolando is right. Thank you, Good Samaritan. : You, sir or madam, represent America's finest ideals. Holding and caring for a lost and lonely child...a rare thing in this strange and twisted nation we have become.
Blessings to Good Samaritan and Rolando. I can barely type anything, I am so upset over this story.
Took me a while too, sandy. Children are our future...abusing them abuses us all.
Part of my job for years was photographing abused children -- babies, included -- for prosecution of the abuser. I had to stop many times because I couldn't see to focus the camera. I found video to be more effective in court. Many a judge would turn a truly evil eye on the accused after viewing it...much like the judge here did. A small measure of satisfaction from that.
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Being placed in the stocks in the middle of town for a few months should take care of her addiction problems.
All of you are very judgemental. Obviouly the girl has problems. I'm sure your daughters or anyone in your families would not do anything such as that. Don't judge, lest you be judged. It could just as well been your grandbaby. When you start pointing fingers, thats when it comes home to haunt. Pray for the grandparents. I know the grandmother is a good one.
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