PHOENIX — A Phoenix woman has been arrested for allegedly leaving her baby and toddler unsupervised at home for over an hour, according to court documents.
Rubielle Appallonia Lerma, 28, is accused of leaving her two daughters, born in 2022 and 2024, alone for approximately one hour and 55 minutes at 11 p.m. on June 1.
Police officers discovered Lerma and her boyfriend at a different location. Lerma initially claimed all three of her children were with her in the car, but officers found only one child present. Both Lerma and her boyfriend then stated they were unsure of the children’s whereabouts, suggesting they might be at her apartment being supervised by a neighbor.
Later, Lerma suggested that the children might be with her mother. However, when officers contacted her mother, she revealed she had not seen the children “in months.” Lerma continued to provide conflicting information regarding the location of her children.
Eventually, the children were found alone in Lerma’s apartment near McDowell Road and 40th Street, without any adult supervision.
The Department of Child Safety was called to the scene.
Lerma has been arrested and charged with reckless child abuse.
