HOUSTON – A woman is facing a felony charge after investigators say she left her two young daughters alone for weeks without proper supervision at their Katy-area home.
According to court documents, Rayshawna Deanna Dowdell is charged with a felony count of abandoning a child.
Recommended Videos
The charge stems from allegations that between February 17 and March 30, Dowdell left her two daughters — ages 11 and 6 — alone in their home without an adult present.
Authorities were first alerted to the situation on March 30, when a woman contacted law enforcement after speaking with the children at a neighborhood park.
The children told her they had been left alone to fend for themselves for weeks, prompting her to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
During Dowdell’s absence, the older child reportedly took on the role of caregiver — looking after her younger sibling, preparing for school, and trying to find food.
Authorities say digital evidence shows Dowdell was out of state during that time, communicating with the children remotely and giving her older daughter instructions instead of being physically present.
Recovered text messages revealed the older daughter was distressed and afraid, expressing concerns about caring for her younger sibling and not having enough food.
Officials also said there was no evidence that any other adult supervised the children during this period.
Deputies who responded to the home described it as unkempt, unsecured, and lacking sufficient resources to feed two children. The house’s rear door was reportedly unlocked when they arrived.
Dowdell later admitted to investigators that she had traveled out of state for a funeral. However, investigators said they found no text messages indicating she had made plans or provided a timeline for returning to her daughters.
Child Protective Services initially placed the children with a relative, but that arrangement later broke down following an alleged physical altercation between Dowdell and the family member.
Investigators allege Dowdell then removed the children and provided inconsistent information about their whereabouts, at times evading welfare checks and attempting to take them out of state.
The children were eventually located in Ohio during a welfare check.
As of May 4, 2026, Dowdell is not in custody.