Mother Arrested After Her Child Was Found Wandering In New Castle

NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS)— New Castle Police have charged Lotte Lockwood, 21, with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child after an area resident found her soon to be 3-year-old child wandering the streets near New Castle Avenue.

It was later learned that her two other children were left at the home in the care of Lockwood's father, who was not physically capable of caring for the children.

New Castle County Code Enforcement responded to the home and condemned the residence due to unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Officers found the home to be unsanitary and filled with bugs, clutter, liter and other debris, making it difficult to move about the residence.

An area resident was the one who found the child wandering the street. However, officers were the first to make contact with the child.

Police eventually were able to make contact with the mother. It was discovered that Lockwood allegedly left the home at 5:30 p.m. and headed to the store and then to a friend's house. She then responded home at approximately 6:45 p.m., after receiving a call from her neighbor who informed her that the police were at her residence.

New Castle County Paramedics had also responded to the scene and all three children were taken to Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children where they were medically evaluated before being released. The children's grandfather was taken to Christiana Hospital where he was medically evaluated and is being treated for previous medical conditions.

Lotte Lockwood was arraigned and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institute after failing to post $600 secured bond.