By Ryan Yousefi
A woman from Coral Springs was taken into custody following allegations by the police that she abandoned her three children in their apartment unattended. At the same time, she engaged in partying for almost two days.
On January 5, the Coral Springs Police Department arrested Daverta Jenkins, 35, of Coral Springs, on charges of child neglect. According to the Coral Springs Police Department, Jenkins left her children, aged 12, 6, and 3, alone in their apartment on December 30.
According to the report, the reckless disregard for her children’s safety led to a warrant and eventual arrest on three counts of child neglect.
According to WSVN, Broward County Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder commented on the severity of the situation, stating Jenkins has been charged with serious neglect of her children, “Based on the allegations that she left her three children home alone for approximately 35 hours so she could go out drinking, use marijuana, cocaine.”
The eldest child, a 12-year-old, made several attempts to contact her mother during this time, calling her 12 times and sending texts expressing their need for care and food.
One of the texts from the child read, “Buenos dias Mami,” followed by messages of concern and confusion about how to feed and take care of her siblings.
A few hours later, the child again texted, writing, “Mommy, I was calling you because we’re hungry, and I don’t know how to make noodles. You’re the only one that does. Please come home.”
The situation escalated to a point in which the children could no longer wait for Jenkins to return, and on the evening of December 31, the 12-year-old approached a neighbor for help, stating that she and her siblings were hungry.
The neighbor alerted the police, triggering an immediate search for the mother.
Jenkins resurfaced nearly two days later, admitting to detectives that she had made a mistake and wanted “a day or two of not being a mother.”
According to records, subsequent drug screening revealed marijuana and cocaine in her system, corroborating her admission of substance abuse during her absence.
The children have since been removed from Jenkins’ care and are currently under the protection of Child Protective Services.
This is not the first time Jenkins has faced such circumstances, as it was revealed that she had another child permanently removed from her custody in 2008.
Broward Circuit Judge Chris Brown has set conditions for Jenkins’ release, including no contact with the victims except as allowed by CPS or ChildNet, no consumption of alcohol or toxins, and mandatory pretrial release services with random testing.
Jenkins has since been released from the Broward County Main Jail after posting a $15,000 bond.
According to CSPD, efforts are ongoing to place the children with a family member on the paternal side.
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