A Texas mother and her boyfriend were arrested after a 12-year-old boy returned home to find his apartment empty. According to Copperas Cove police, the child had been left behind with no supervision or plan for care after his mother and her partner moved out.
Authorities identified the suspects as Erica Renee Sanders and Keven Dwayne Adams, who now face charges of abandoning or endangering a child without intent to return. The incident unfolded when the boy reportedly went to a neighbor’s home, confused and alarmed after returning to an empty apartment. The neighbor called the police, who arrived to find the unit cleared out and the child left alone without any adult supervision or indication of where his mother had gone.
Police said the boy told them that Sanders and Adams had mentioned moving soon, but never gave him a date. When questioned, both adults claimed that the child was supposed to live with his uncle. This assertion was quickly disproven when officers contacted the relative, who stated that he was unaware of any such arrangement.
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Police Report Reveals Disturbing Details
According to the arrest affidavit, the 12-year-old boy had no food, no belongings, and no idea where his family had gone. Investigators noted that the home was empty, suggesting the couple had moved out intentionally while leaving the child behind.
When police reached out to Adams and Sanders, they initially denied wrongdoing, insisting that they had arranged for the boy to stay with his uncle. However, officers confirmed through direct contact that the uncle had no knowledge of such an arrangement and had not been asked to care for the child. According to Law & Crime, Adams allegedly complained about the boy when questioned by police. Meanwhile, when Child Protective Services (CPS) contacted the couple, they were unable to provide a current address and reportedly refused to do so.
The neighbor who helped the boy also told authorities that this was not the first time the child had been left alone or kicked out of the home.
Charges Filed Against the Couple
Both Sanders and Adams have been charged with abandoning or endangering a child without intent to return, a serious felony offense under Texas law.