Springfield mom accused of leaving young children home alone

A Springfield woman is accused of leaving a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old alone for at least 45 minutes Tuesday while she visited a friend.

Micaela Shepherd, 34 is charged in Clark County Municipal Court with two counts of endangering children. She pleaded not guilty and her bond was set at $1,000.

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Springfield police began their investigation when they were called around 3:45 a.m. to an apartment complex on the 1900 block of Primm Drive, an affidavit filed in the case says. A caller told dispatch that a child had been crying for three hours.

“When officers arrived on scene they knocked on the door and the 4-year-old child victim answered the door,” the affidavit says. “Officers observed 2-year-old child victim in the living room running around. Officers began checking for an adult and it was at this time they did not locate anyone inside the apartment.”

Dispatch was able to come up with a phone number for Shepherd, however, she didn’t answer the phone when dispatch called, the affidavit says. Officers were also able to find the children’s grandmother’s phone number but were unable to make contact, the affidavit says.

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Officers were at the home for about 45 minutes when Shepherd returned home, according to the affidavit.

“She advised that the children were asleep and she went to see a friend at the (apartment complex). She stated that she was not gone that long. The original caller wished to remain anonymous and we were unable to verify how long the children were alone. The children were willing to open the door for anybody who knocked and had no way of contacting anyone for help,” the affidavit says.

Shepherd was placed under arrest. A next court date had not been set in the case.

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