MADISON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A mother is facing a felony child neglect charge after her approximately 3-year-old daughter was allegedly found wandering naked through Madison.
According to a criminal complaint, officers received a report through Boone County 911 that a young girl was lying naked in the grass near the VFW building. Authorities were later advised that the child had walked toward Madison City Hall and entered an alleyway.
The child was eventually located near 400 Second Street, where officers reportedly saw her chasing a dog down the street while still unclothed. A nearby resident brought the child inside while police attempted to locate her parent or guardian.
The child’s mother, Elizabeth Nicole Jones, later arrived at the scene. During an interview at the Madison Police Department, she allegedly told officers that she had gone to the bathroom and that the child left the house without her knowledge.
The criminal complaint cites West Virginia’s felony child neglect law, which applies when neglect creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. A conviction carries a possible prison sentence of one to 10 years.
The allegations contained in the criminal complaint have not been proven in court.
