In the early morning of December 5, a homeowner who had set up a wildlife camera made a disturbing discovery. The camera captured footage of a two-year-old girl wandering alone in the woods at 3 am, barefoot and wearing only a dress.
The homeowner immediately contacted the police, expressing concerns for the toddler’s safety. A search operation was launched to find the missing child, but it was later revealed that the girl had been found.
Hayley Peoples, 21, contacted the authorities and confessed that her daughter had left their home earlier in the night. Despite finding the child at 4:15 am, Peoples delayed reporting the incident to the police for several hours.
Upon visiting Peoples’ residence in Texas, officials found unsanitary living conditions, including trash, soiled clothing, and a strong smell of urine. The child was also found in a soiled state. Authorities reported that Peoples refused to allow them to care for the child or change her clothes.
Peoples was taken into custody for child abandonment and endangerment, while Kelly, the toddler’s grandmother, was arrested for obstructing the investigation. Both women were booked into the Bexar County Jail.
Kelly attempted to remove the toddler’s other siblings from school, claiming that Child Protective Services were involved and instructing the children not to discuss the incident. This interference led to Kelly’s detainment at the school and the siblings being taken to the hospital for assessment.
Peoples secured her release on a $50,000 bond, while Kelly was freed after posting a $7,500 bail. The Mirror has reached out to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for further comments.