A toddler went missing in Anderson, South Carolina and the boy's mother was arrested and charged. Authorities have filed a case of unlawful neglect of a child against her.
The mother was identified as 25-year-old Heather Knight. Her son, Devon Burton, went missing on Friday after his mom left the boy unattended in their home at around 3 a.m.
Knight, who lives with her father, did not tell him she was stepping out of the house. The 2-year-old boy then wandered off and went missing. Knight later told police that she went to get cigarettes.
If Knight would be found guilty, she could face up to 10 years behind bars. Her bail was set at $50,000 and her first day in court is scheduled on March 3 at 9 a.m.
This is not the first time Knight faced charges as she was cited in the past, Independent Mail reported. She was charged with the same offense in 2011 over her daughter, who has since been taken away from her because of drug usage at that time.
Devon was found hours after he was first reported missing. The boy was located in a parked car on Hudgens Street in Anderson, a few blocks away from their home.
Police also searched the residence after they found a glass pipe used to smoke illegal narcotics and five spray paint cans, two of which were empty. These were all found inside the bedroom of the toddler.
WSPA.com reported Knight told the judge she is not using drugs and would submit to physical testing in order to prove it. She said she wants her child back, who is now in the custody of his uncle.
The uncle of the child claims the father of Devon, Randolph Burton, was the reason why the child went missing. The uncle said Randolph took him from their home without any notice.
It is unclear if this is what happened. Officials are still looking for Randolph to confirm this allegation.
Other witnesses also said the boy was seen getting out of a car. Others claimed he was seen wandering around the area before he was found. The investigation is ongoing.
