CENTERVILLE, Utah -- A couple is facing child abandonment charges after they allegedly left the mom's son to walk 5 miles home along a highway in Centerville without adequate winter clothing.
Lt. Von Steenblik, Centerville Police Department, said the incident happened on December 28, 2015. The Davis County District Attorney brought charges against the 34-year-old mother and her 37-year-old boyfriend on March 28.
The 13-year-old son was told to get out of the boyfriend’s car and walk five miles to the mother’s home in Woods Cross, when the temperature outside was just 18 degrees.
It started with an argument over new headphones.
Police said the boy only had $75 to buy new headphones at Wal-Mart, but the item he wanted cost $100. The mother and son argued about the extra $25, and finally the boyfriend pulled over into a 7-Eleven convenience store.
“The boyfriend pulled into the 7-Eleven parking lot just off the frontage road on Parish Lane and asked him if he knew where his mother lived and told him to get out,” Lt. Steenblik said. “He just kind of hung there for a while because you think, you know, ‘they are going to come back and get me.’ And they didn't.”
A state trooper spotted the boy walking along I-15.
“He didn't have a coat, hat, gloves,” said Lt. Steenblik. “She described him as very upset. He was crying.”
FOX 13 News went to both the mother’s apartment and the boyfriend’s apartment, but neither answered the door.
“The boyfriend, when he was interviewed said, ‘This is me. It's all on me. I'm the one who made the decision.’” Lt. Steenblik said. “But mom has a responsibility to protect her son, and she didn't.’”
If convicted, both individuals could both face up to five years in jail.
