Couple Leaves 8-Month-Old Baby Home Alone: Police

Two parents who reportedly left their baby home alone in an unlocked Brooklyn Park apartment face child neglect charges, according to police.

The apartment resident called Anne Arundel County Police about 11:30 p.m. Sunday to report his friends left their 8-month-old son home alone. The call says the apartment in the 4000 block of Belle Grove Road in Brooklyn Park was unlocked when he returned to it.

The child was left alone in his playpen wearing only a diaper. The caller told police he did not know how long the boy had been left alone or where the parents were. The couple had been staying with the caller for some time.

The baby’s parents returned while police were there. They told investigators they put the boy down to sleep for the night and then walked to the Royal Farm’s Store over the Baltimore City line about a mile from the residence.

Police say the parents thought the child would be fine sleeping while they went to the store and that they were only gone for about 20 minutes.

The suspects are Cody Wolford, 23, of no fixed address, and Christina Justice, 22, of no fixed address.

The couple is both charged with neglect of a minor and confined unattended child.

Child Protective Services was contacted about the case. The baby is now in the custody of its grandparents.

»Photo of Christina Justice, left, and Cody Wolford, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police