A toddler survived on ketchup, mustard, rice and raw pasta for almost three weeks while her mum was behind bars.

The two-year-old was covered in ketchup and watching cartoons when discovered by her dad.


Despite having to get by on scraps and condiments, she lived through the ordeal and was treated at hospital for malnutrition.

Her mum, Dakeysha Lee, 22, had been in jail since September 10 but did not let anyone know she had left the girl by herself at home in Jacksonville, Florida.

The girl's father, Ogden Lee, said he was separated from Mrs Lee and had phoned her to let her know their daughter was with neighbours.

He walked into the flat to find his child lying in a baby's bathtub in her mother's bedroom.

Mr Lee said: "She grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

"It is really a miracle how good shape my daughter is in. I don't know how she did it."

Mrs Lee has been charged with child abuse.


http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-12806472,00.html

Is it the weather lately or something? Seems a day doesn't go past when there's a story similar to this these days.

How can you charge someone with child abuse and not check the home for children? :angry:

So much turmoil in the world :(

That's a pretty smart two year old.


I can't believe the state of parenting nowadays. Now, I don't have any kids; but surely that does not effect the logic of:

Don't leave your kids home alone while you are in jail. Especially when they're two years old.

Ugh ... I hope the father has a bit more sense than the mother.

Ugh ... I hope the father has a bit more sense than the mother. If he knew mom went to jail, and possibly was told the child was with a neighbor (not sure I understood that part completely), and mom was in jail for child abuse...... I would think any half way decent parent would have IMMEDIATELY went to check on the child, provide his credentials to the care taker (if for some reason he could not care for the child himself?), and just generally make himself available... rather than taking two weeks to catch the clue :mad: HOPEFULLY there's a lot more to this story where dad is involved and he is better than that... but :shrug: NOTHING would stop me from IMMEDIATELY snagging my children from the other parent if I were in a similar circumstance.

Originally posted by Deb
If he knew mom went to jail, and possibly was told the child was with a neighbor (not sure I understood that part completely), and mom was in jail for child abuse...... I would think any half way decent parent would have IMMEDIATELY went to check on the child, provide his credentials to the care taker (if for some reason he could not care for the child himself?), and just generally make himself available... rather than taking two weeks to catch the clue :mad: HOPEFULLY there's a lot more to this story where dad is involved and he is better than that... but :shrug: NOTHING would stop me from IMMEDIATELY snagging my children from the other parent if I were in a similar circumstance.


Very true. Hopefully the state takes the child and puts him/her into capable hands.

Originally posted by Deb
If he knew mom went to jail, and possibly was told the child was with a neighbor (not sure I understood that part completely), and mom was in jail for child abuse......

I don't think the mom was in jail for child abuse. She was charged with it after they discovered the girl. I don't think the article noted what she was in jail for beforehand.

Yeah.. she was in jail for something else.

That's terrible... what kind of person treats their child like that.

Originally posted by JTY
That's terrible... what kind of person treats their child like that.

I'm actually quite happy that I have no idea what sort of person could do that. There's nothing in my mind that can relate to that woman at all.

That is one plucky little 2 year old though, lasting three weeks and coming out of the experience ok.

Kudos to the kid.
Hopefully she will never have the misfortune of ever seeing her mother again.
I doubt very much the father should be involved either if he knew the mother was going to jail and didn't take the child into custody at least while the mother was in jail.

That is sooooooo sad :bawling: I can't even begin to imagine what that little girl went through all that time. Even a day alone would be horrendous for someone so young. :(

:bawling: that just break my heart.

Millions more unreported like that in this world.

Seems the mum was jailed for assault and petty theft originally. Neighbours heard occasional crying, but "nothing to get alarmed about", which I guess is understandable as any home with a toddler will have the occasional cries, but you would think they would notice something, like no coming and going, lights on all night or off all the time?

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7428463%255E1702,00.html

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Seems the mum was jailed for assault and petty theft originally. Neighbours heard occasional crying, but "nothing to get alarmed about", which I guess is understandable as any home with a toddler will have the occasional cries, but you would think they would notice something, like no coming and going, lights on all night or off all the time?

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7428463%255E1702,00.html


Do you ever sleep? :stickout:

Sure I do :) Australian time :D In about 3/3.5 hours I will be snoring away while you work :cartman:

Originally posted by Deb
If he knew mom went to jail, and possibly was told the child was with a neighbor (not sure I understood that part completely), and mom was in jail for child abuse......

You didn't understand that part completely. The mom and dad had been seperated (It's like a divorce, but without all the paperwork.) She did not tell him that she was in jail, nor did she tell anyone that she left the girl alone. He came into the apartment for something and saw the little girl. He then phoned the mother to let her know that he put the baby at a neighbors house.

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Sure I do :) Australian time :D In about 3/3.5 hours I will be snoring away while you work :cartman:


I've been working for about 26 hours straight at this point, so you'll probably have two good nights of sleep before I get to bed.
:o