'My Mommy Left Me’: 5-Year-Old Flags Down Police After Mom Left Him Home Alone to Go to Walmart

A woman from Florida was ordered to stay away from her 5-year-old son after the boy flagged down police, saying that he had been left alone by his mother. Police tracked down and arrested the woman on March 8; she was later released. The mother left the 5-year-old boy inside the house and said she was going to Walmart, but never returned.

A 23-year-old Florida woman, Britley Louis, was arrested on March 8. Louis allegedly left her 5-year-old son alone inside the house to go to Walmart and never returned. After she did not return, the 5-year-old exited the residence by himself and flagged down officers from the North Miami Beach Police Department.

Law&Crime reported that in the body camera footage shared by the department, the 5-year-old boy, whose name has not been made public, can be seen approaching the police officers, who asked him if he was alone. After telling an officer that his mother went to Walmart, he said, “She didn’t tell me what time she would come home.”

Another office is seen asking the boy if he lived nearby, and he answered, “MmHmm, by myself.” The 5-year-old further explained that he lived by himself “because my mommy left me.”

According to the arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, officers from the North Miami Beach Police Department said the 5-year-old was wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt, without pants or shoes. Police said he asked for help and pointed out the house where he lived. When the officers arrived, they initially tried to make contact with someone inside the house, but no one answered the door.

The officers then found an open door through which the boy had exited. After entering the residence, officers said they found the living conditions to be extremely poor. There were clear signs of hoarding, according to police. Officers wrote in the affidavit that the house was dirty with “rotten food residue everywhere.” They also said the house was covered in spiderwebs. According to police, there was a smell coming from inside the refrigerator that was “unbearable.”

Police eventually identified Louis as the 5-year-old boy’s mother. Louis was called several times by investigators but did not answer. According to the affidavit, Louis told an agent from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) that a friend of hers would come and pick up the boy.

The friend later told the authorities that she was not “comfortable” taking custody of the child, and the 5-year-old was placed in the care of the DCF.

As Louis was leaving her residence the following day, police placed her under arrest. Louis was arrested on March 8 and charged with child neglect and unlawful desertion of a child. She was later released from jail and ordered not to have any contact with the 5-year-old. Louis’ next court date is scheduled for April 7.