http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/09/....ap/index.html


JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) -- A 2-year-old left alone for nearly three weeks while her mother was behind bars survived by eating mustard, ketchup, rice and raw pasta, police said.

The toddler was watching cartoons when found by her father, police said Monday. She was suffering from malnutrition and was being treated at Wolfson Children's Hospital, police said.

Dakeysha Lee, 22, was charged Monday with child abuse because she didn't let anyone know that her daughter was alone in her apartment, police said. She was jailed Sept. 10 on unrelated charges.

Ogden Lee, who is separated from the girl's mother, said he talked to her by telephone at the jail Sunday and she said their daughter was with neighbors.

When he got into the apartment, the youngster had dragged food and toys into her mother's bedroom and was lying in a baby's bathtub. She was covered with dried ketchup, Lee said.

"She grabbed me and wouldn't let go of me," Lee said. "It is really a miracle how good a shape my daughter is in. I don't know how she did it."


i would so be worried that the dad did not check on her for nearly three weeks. i cna't go a day without thinking about my little girl that i don't have custody of, and i never miss a weekend with her, but three weeks! mind i do understand that the mom was most at fault here, it is good to hear she is being charged for it!

i hate to say this but DAMN the mother!!!!! THAT IS SO CRUEL!!! the mother should have a longer stay in jail for her actions!!!!! cant believe that people can do that at all. sad :(

[ 10-01-2003, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: Harkoliar ]

thats cruel mother should get death it may be mean but its fair

perhaps she is mentaly ill? not sayig that is an excuse, but it could be a reason, but why the father would never go to the neighbors and see is daughter, is another story

Not to say the father is not at fault but according to the article I read he had spent two weeks trying to call and see what was up. After two weeks he tried calling the jail and found out that his girlfriend was there and she told him the kid was with the neighbors. Once he found that out he then went to check on the kid.

Granamere

That storey just makes me feel ill when I read it. Having a 16 month old girl and knowing the attention she needs on a daily basis nevermind daily she needs things on a min. basis. And knowing this girl has been on her own for weeks makes me shake my head. If you ask me the father and mother should not be parents.

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I don't think the father had any mal-intentions. The text says he was 'seperated from the girl's mother'. I think the mother is to blame. A good thing the child is safe and I hope the mother will learn some more responsibility from jail-time!
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I do not think he did either but not seeing his daughter for that long says alot in it self. Being a father I take my family very serious. There is nothing more important then my family. And as soon as the father new that the daughter was at the neighbors why would he not go there and make sure everything was all right. Or did he go there right away. Did he talk to the mother and then wait three weeks or did he talk to the mother and go right away it does not say this. This all sounds a little fishy to me. Sounds like he also did not care.

it does not say, but either way, why would a father stay away from his child for 3 weeks, seperated or not? I get so mad, when i see families, without daddy, and I get mad at my husband, because he will not even call his other kids, to me, that says to much about any man, if he refuses to fight to see his kids, maybe he had a reason, but it did not say

The irresponsible parenthood aside... this is one resourceful little girl! I can't help but feel that she is going to be someone really special when she grows up.