Mom abandons daughter: Cops arrest woman who left girl, 2, at Riverside grocery store
- 7 years ago
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA — A woman who allegedly abandoned her 2-year-old daughter at a grocery store has been arrested by police.
Cops in Riverside, California detained Chiengkham Vilaysane, 31, after members of the public identified her from security camera video footage, local ABC-affiliate KABC reported.
Police allege that Vilaysane intentionally left her daughter behind at a Food 4 Less store in Riverside on Tuesday.
Vilaysane allowed her daughter to wander off while she was shopping at the store, according to the cops. When a Good Samaritan tried to return the child, Vilaysane allegedly said: “Just leave her.”
The mother later checked out at the cash register, leaving the store with a bag of groceries but without her child. The young girl was spotted wandering around the store alone. She later identified her mother on CCTV.
Vilaysane could now face felony charges of child endangerment. Police said they wanted to get to the bottom of the story first and find out if they could help.
Vilaysane had recently been kicked out of her home, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing investigators. She is also no stranger to breaking the law, having had prior run-ins for drugs and alcohol offenses.
Detectives said Vilaysane had previously been placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Her daughter is now in the custody of child protective services.
Cops in Riverside, California detained Chiengkham Vilaysane, 31, after members of the public identified her from security camera video footage, local ABC-affiliate KABC reported.
Police allege that Vilaysane intentionally left her daughter behind at a Food 4 Less store in Riverside on Tuesday.
Vilaysane allowed her daughter to wander off while she was shopping at the store, according to the cops. When a Good Samaritan tried to return the child, Vilaysane allegedly said: “Just leave her.”
The mother later checked out at the cash register, leaving the store with a bag of groceries but without her child. The young girl was spotted wandering around the store alone. She later identified her mother on CCTV.
Vilaysane could now face felony charges of child endangerment. Police said they wanted to get to the bottom of the story first and find out if they could help.
Vilaysane had recently been kicked out of her home, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing investigators. She is also no stranger to breaking the law, having had prior run-ins for drugs and alcohol offenses.
Detectives said Vilaysane had previously been placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Her daughter is now in the custody of child protective services.