Crying Kids, 5 And 3, Rescued By Joliet Maintenance Workers After Mother Leaves Them Home Alone: Cops

JOLIET, IL — At least a dozen times a year, perhaps more, the Joliet Police Department makes a "Home Alone" arrest somewhere in our city. The latest such incident happened in recent days resulting in the arrest of 24-year-old Erica Buford.

According to police spokesman Dwayne English, on July 18, at 9:58 a.m., officers responded to the Riverwalk Homes Apartments in the 300 block of North Broadway Street following a report that two young children had been left unattended inside an apartment.

Upon arrival, the officers learned that a 5-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy had been found alone by apartment management employees who entered the unit to complete a maintenance work order after hearing children crying inside.

The children's mother, Buford, had returned to the apartment before officers arrived.

English said that Buford allegedly left the children unattended shortly after 9 a.m., briefly returned to the apartment, and then allegedly left them alone a second time while she was with a group of people in the parking lot. Buford was taken into custody without incident, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was notified.

Officers observed that both children appeared to be in good health, and no health or safety concerns were identified inside the apartment. Buford was charged with two counts of
endangering the life or health of a child.

She was processed at the Joliet Police Department
and released on a Notice to Appear in court. Following the investigation, the children remained in Buford's care.