A Winter Haven mom is in jail after her four young children were found alone in deplorable conditions in a motel room, police said.
29-year-old Kimberly Lightsey, was charged with child neglect and contributing to the deliquency of a minor when her childen, ages 1 year through 11 years, were left unsupervised.
The children were discovered early on Sunday morning after a guest at the Howard Johnson’s Motel at 1300 3rd Street, in Winter Haven, called police following the incessant crying of a young child. The guest told police a child was in the hallway strapped into a strolled that had flipped over.
According to detectives, no one was able to identify the parents of the child, but employees were able to direct them to the room from which the child came. Police discovered three other child asleep in the room, but no adult was present.
The room was in disarray, with trash, clothes and food crumbs all all over the floor, police said. Two of the children have medical issues, one requiring constant care and medicine on a regular basis, police also said.
The 11-year-old told detectives that her mother told her a woman by the name of Simone was to look in and check on them.
Simone told police Lightsey had asked her to look in on the children, but she didn’t know which room and her several attempts to reach the mom by cell phone had failed, and there was no reply until 2:51 a.m. Detectives were able to confirm Simone’s numerous calls to Lightsey.
Lightsey returned around 3:00 a.m., after police contacted her. She was promptly arrested and charged with child neglect and other charges.
Police said, all four children have been turned over to family members.
