HOUSTON – A Houston mother is accused of leaving her baby alone at an apartment for at least an hour while she went to the store.
According to court documents, Cynthia Hernandez, 29, left a young girl alone in apartment on June 7. The child was in her care, but Hernandez did not provide supervision.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office says an apartment manager knocked on Hernandez's door to collect the rent, but there was no answer.
According to the DA's office, the manager entered the apartment to find a 6-month-old baby girl lying face down on the floor, crying. The manager told investigators there was on one else in the apartment.
The manager waited for paramedics to arrive.
About an hour later, prosecutors say Hernandez finally showed up and told authorities she went to pick up a prescription at the drug store.
A neighbor, Cherry Hamm has three kids of her own. She said it's hard to believe anyone would leave a child that age alone.
"No way, no way, that's absurd," Hamm said. "I don't understand why anybody would do that. A 6-month-old. I understand if it was a teenager or something, but you don't do that to a 6-month-old."
The baby was released to the care of her father. The couple have three other children.
Hernandez was charged with abandoning a child with intent to return, a state jail felony that carries a sentence of up to two years if she's convicted.
Hernandez was released Sunday after posting a $2,000 bond.