Memphis mother charged after allegedly abandoning four young children in uncooled home — returning an hour later holding a beer

“I WAS ONLY GONE TO KROGER FOR THIRTY MINUTES AND LEFT MY DEBIT CARD THERE”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, POLICE SAY A MEMPHIS MOTHER LEFT FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN UNATTENDED IN A DIRTY HOME WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING WHILE TWO TODDLERS RAN INTO TRAFFIC AND INFANT TWINS WERE FOUND UNRESPONSIVE… AND SHE NOW FACES FOUR COUNTS OF CHILD NEGLECT.

A Memphis mother is facing multiple child neglect charges after police reported that four of her eight children were left home without an adult.

Police said the incident involved conditions that could have ended tragically.

The mother has been identified by authorities as Keenia Haynes.

Memphis Police officers were initially dispatched following a report concerning child welfare on Wednesday afternoon.

That call came in to law enforcement shortly after 2:45 p.m.

When officers reached the area, they encountered an alarming scene before they had even entered the home.

Police said two young children, ages 2 and 3, were running into the street.

The two toddlers were nearly struck by a vehicle in the roadway.

The toddlers then pointed the responding officers toward a nearby house.

Officers proceeded to the house and went inside.

When police checked the interior, there was not an adult anywhere in the home.

Instead, officers discovered 2-month-old twins strapped into car seats inside.

According to police, both of the 2-month-old infants were unresponsive.

Officers also described the residence as dirty.

Police stated that there was no air conditioning operating inside the home.

Then officers noticed another immediate danger inside the residence.

Police reported seeing one of the toddlers attempting to drink from a bottle of bleach located in the kitchen.

First responders were summoned to the residence to tend to the children.

First responders fed the two unresponsive infants.

Authorities said the babies subsequently became responsive after being fed.

Approximately an hour after officers were initially called to the scene, Haynes returned to the residence.

Her arrival occurred at around 3:45 p.m.

Police said Haynes was carrying a bottle of beer when she walked up.

Haynes reportedly told the officers that she had only been away from the home for about 30 minutes.

She also told police that she had gone to Kroger to purchase food.

Haynes stated that she had accidentally left her debit card at the store.

Police arrested Haynes at the scene.

Authorities stated that Haynes has eight children altogether.

Her other four children, who range in age from 7 to 13 years old, were attending school when officers discovered the four younger children alone in the home.

Officials contacted the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services following the incident.

The state agency was contacted to assist authorities with custody and care arrangements involving all eight children.

Haynes has been charged with four counts of child neglect following Wednesday’s incident.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.