HOUSTON – A mother is accused of leaving two young children, one of them tied up, alone at their southwest Houston apartment, police said.
Anatasia Walzier, 28, has been charged with endangering a child.
According to documents, on Dec. 9, an apartment manager was walking to different units at the Villa La Jolla Apartments serving notices to tenants who were delinquent on their rent.
The manager entered Walzier's apartment and found her 1-year-old son lying on the floor. The manager first called out to see if anyone else was home, then searched and found an 8-year-old boy tied up in another part of the apartment, investigators said.
Walzier returned while the manager was still there and told her she left the boys alone for 15 minutes while she went to pay her rent. The manager said the mother explained she tied up the older boy so that he would not hit his younger brother.
The manager informed the courtesy officer at the complex and, on the next day, called Houston police and administrators at the 8-year-old's school.
The mother was questioned by police, at which time, she admitted to tying up her son.
Walzier was arrested and charged. Her bond was set at $2,000.
Children Protective Services initially took custody of the children, but the boys have now been placed in the care of family members.
Residents with whom KPRC 2 spoke with at the apartment complex didn't know Walzier, but were stunned to hear the allegations against her.
"That's just wrong. Why would she do that?" Milagros Santos, a mother of two, said.
Walzier was given a court-appointed lawyer. Her next court date is Jan. 28, 2016.