Mother Arrested After Toddler Found Wandering Alone in Bexar County Woods

Child Found Wandering in Woods Early Friday

In Bexar County, Texas, deputies responded early Friday morning to a report of a young child wandering alone in a wooded area on the South Side. A property owner contacted the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) after reviewing footage from a game camera that showed a toddler walking alone in the woods at approximately 3 a.m.

According to BCSO, the footage showed the child wearing only a dress and no shoes, while temperatures were in the 40s. The property owner called deputies around 6 a.m. upon discovering the video, and law enforcement initiated a search for the unidentified child.

Mother Reports Child Missing and Home Conditions Investigated

At about 7:20 a.m., a woman identified by BCSO as 25-year-old Haley Peoples reported that her two-year-old daughter had “gotten out of the home” earlier that morning. Peoples told authorities she located the child outside at approximately 4:15 a.m. but did not contact law enforcement for several hours, during which deputies were actively searching for the child seen in the woods.

When deputies arrived at Peoples’ residence, they reported finding unsafe living conditions. According to BCSO, the home contained trash, soiled clothing, rotting food, rat droppings, and a strong odor of urine.

Child Condition, Medical Evaluation, and Detention

Deputies found the two-year-old child in a soiled condition. Emergency medical services requested a medical evaluation for the child, but authorities state that Peoples declined the evaluation and refused to change the child’s clothing. BCSO reports that, due to the unsafe living environment and what they described as a severe risk to the child, Peoples was detained at the scene.

Grandmother Detained at Elementary School

During the investigation, deputies learned that the child’s grandmother, identified as Rebecca Kelly, attempted to remove the child’s three siblings from their elementary school before 9 a.m. that morning. School staff informed deputies that Kelly told the children Child Protective Services (CPS) was coming and instructed them not to talk about the early morning incident, referring to it as a “private family matter.”

BCSO states that Kelly was detained at the school based on her alleged attempt to interfere with a child-safety investigation. All four children, each under the age of eight, were transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.

Arrests and Charges in Bexar County

Authorities arrested Haley Peoples on a charge of Abandoning/Endangering a Child – Imminent Danger of Bodily Injury. Rebecca Kelly was arrested on a charge of Interference with Investigation of Abuse/Neglect. Both individuals were booked into the Bexar County Jail following their arrests.