A Missouri mother was accused of abandoning her 4-year-old daughter at a truck stop in the middle of the night before telling police that she had only two children. Kayla Marie Christensen allegedly left the girl at a Love’s Travel Stop in Neosho, Missouri, around 3 a.m. on October 23, per a report.
Investigators said Christensen drove away with her two other children, both boys and later denied having a daughter when officers questioned her.
The case also raised concerns about the boys’ safety after police allegedly found them improperly restrained in the vehicle and near suspected drug paraphernalia.
4-Year-Old Girl Found Alone at Missouri Truck Stop
The investigation began shortly before 3 a.m. on October 23, when Neosho police officers responded to a report of a young child alone in the parking lot of Love’s Travel Stop.
Per the criminal complaint, Christensen allegedly left her 4-year-old daughter at the location and drove away without intending to return. Employees at the truck stop reportedly helped keep the girl safe and calm until officers arrived.
Police investigated the incident and worked to identify the child’s family. The girl was identified in court documents as “JV1,” rather than by her name.
Mom Allegedly Told Police She Had Only Two Sons
After officers located Christensen, they questioned her about the 4-year-old girl. Per the report, she allegedly claimed that her only children were the two boys who were with her.
Prosecutors cited the alleged denial as part of the evidence that Christensen intended to abandon the girl. The affidavit stated that she had allegedly left the child “with the purpose of wholly abandoning her” and pointed to her decision to drive away, fail to return and later deny having a daughter.
The allegations were included in the criminal complaint and had not been established as facts in court.
Police Also Raised Concerns About the Two Boys’ Safety
Investigators alleged that Christensen had her two sons in the vehicle when she left the truck stop. Neither child was properly restrained in an appropriate car seat.
Police also reportedly found suspected drug paraphernalia, including syringes, within the children’s reach. The affidavit said the circumstances created a substantial risk of injury to the children and other people on the road.
Local radio station NewsTalk KZRG also reported that Christensen allegedly left the boys inside her vehicle while she entered a casino in Wyandotte, Kansas, after leaving the girl at the truck stop.
Christensen Faces Child Abandonment and Endangerment Charges
Court records showed that Christensen was charged with one count of first-degree child abandonment and two counts of first-degree child endangerment. She was arrested on October 23.
The local radio station reported a different list of eight charges, including second-degree child abandonment, child abuse or neglect, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to properly restrain children. The charging details reported by the outlets differed, so the court-record-based charges are used here.
Christensen did not appear to remain in custody as of October 27, per the records. The available reports did not establish whether she had entered a plea or retained an attorney. Authorities had not publicly disclosed a motive for the alleged abandonment.
