Mom flew to Germany, left 4 kids home alone in Iowa

[brassmonkey]

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) - A suburban Des Moines mother has been jailed after she left her four children home alone while she traveled to Europe for a 12-day vacation in Germany, police said Friday.

Johnston police have charged Erin Macke, 30, with four counts of child endangerment and one of transferring a firearm to a person under 21. Police said the latter charge was filed because a firearm was left at home within the children's reach.

Police said Macke tried but failed to make child care arrangements for her children - two aged 12, one 7 and the other 6 - before leaving Sept. 20 for a vacation in Germany. The father of one of the children was called by his child the next day, and he tipped off police that the children had been left unsupervised, Johnston police spokeswoman Janet Wilwerding said Friday.

Johnston police Lt. Tyler Tompkins told Des Moines television station KCCI that Macke's baby sitter options all fell through, so she left the two 12-year-olds in charge.

"They were concerned, they didn't know, they were confused," Tompkins said of the youngsters. "I mean, we're only talking about 12-year-olds being the adults here."

Officers went to the residence Sept. 21 and called the Iowa Human Services Department, which took custody of the children. They have since been released to the care of relatives, Wilwerding said. Police called Macke in Germany, demanding she return.

She had planned to fly home on Sunday.

The mother was arrested on her return Thursday. She remained in custody Friday, according to Polk County Jail records.

Court records don't list the name of an attorney who can comment on her behalf.

article...

[crockett]

Red hat had to visit the father land, the kids will understand!

[onwebcam]

Originally Posted by crockett

Red hat had to visit the father land, the kids will understand!

How about we play guess the politics?

There's an article from 2012 about her ex-husband was hit by an ied, returned home and was having a hard time finding work after healing. While ex-hubby was out getting blown up and shit mother of the year here was working on multiple degrees meanwhile it's safe to assume getting knocked up by another man because the OPs article mentions "one of the kids fathers" So it's probably safe to assume the older kids are army vets kids and at least 1 of the younger kids is by someone else. That article was from 2012 and the youngest looks to be only 4-5 yo. So what we have here is a body builder with multiple degrees who decided she didn't need the fathers even when she decided to go on a 12 day vacation most likely bought and paid for by both dads who are probably not allowed much visitation.

Want to rethink that political guess or sticking with it?

[crockett]

Originally Posted by onwebcam

How about we play guess the politics?

There's an article from 2012 where her ex-husband was hit by an ied, returned home and was having a hard time finding work after healing. While ex-hubby was out getting blown up and shit mother of the year here was working on multiple degrees meanwhile it's safe to assume getting knocked up by another man because the OPs article mentions "one of the kids fathers" So it's probably safe to assume the older kids are army vets kids and at least 1 of the younger kids is by someone else. That article was from 2012 and the youngest looks to be only 4-5 yo. So what we have here is a body builder with multiple degrees who decided she didn't need the fathers even when she decided to go on a 12 day vacation most likely bought and paid for by both dads who are probably not allowed much visitation.

Want to rethink that political guess or sticking with it?

Sounds like typical red hat to me...

[onwebcam]

Originally Posted by crockett

Sounds like typical red hat to me...

It's a close call but I'm leaning libby. No luck on her facebook so maybe a voter registration will pop up and we see who wins

[TheDynasty]

sorry she was late guys

[Matt 26z]

It isn't unheard of for 12yo girls to do babysitting.

[Barry-xlovecam]

The state should take her kids -- that is criminal child neglect.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by crockett

Sounds like typical red hat to me...

Aren'tyou proud that your country has so many dumb asses?

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

Aren't you glad i didnt leave country?

you old asshole!

[crockett]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

Aren'tyou proud that your country has so many dumb asses?

At least you aren't here...

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Matt 26z

It isn't unheard of for 12yo girls to do babysitting. while out of the country!

they were probably shooting the gun! the police went right to that

[AndyA]

I'm surprised more kids don't die everyday

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by Paul Markham

Aren'tyou proud that your country has so many dumb asses?

Sad you can't afford to live in your own country because you're such a failure so you focus on all other countries and judgementally put down foreigners every day as if you're a flawless old fossil who's breath and shit doesn't drink.