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Written by: E. George
Published November 1, 2024 @ 3:35 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged physical violence against/neglect of children.
GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – Brunswick police officers arrested a 33-year-old woman after a concerned citizen reported seeing a toddler wandering alone in a parking lot wearing only a diaper and drinking from a puddle. The witness said this was the second time the child had been walking around the area unattended this week.
Officers knocked on the door of the Wolfe Street residence down the road and spoke with two women, neither of whom knew the five-year-old child was missing. The toddler’s mother, Katherin Nichole Kirkland, thought he was playing in the first-floor playroom and explained that he “must have [exited] out through the back door” because someone forgot to latch it last night.
Kirkland disclosed that her son was diagnosed with level three autism in January and had left the home unattended once before. She added that DFCS contacted her two weeks ago for her son being “unattended, having a rash, and not being properly secured in a car seat.”
A DFCS employee arrived and created a safety plan with Kirkland before the officers detained and transported her to the detention center. She faces second-degree child cruelty – criminal negligence/causing excessive physical/mental pain.
The child was left with an adult at the home. This case is pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
I Officer Smith on August 23rd 2024 responded to 1001 1st Avenue (A&S Market) in reference to a young white male child walking alone around the parking lot in only a diaper. Upon arrival, I made contact with a 5 year old male wearing only a diaper and no shoes walking around the parking lot.
A concerned citizen identified as [WITNESS #1] advised me that the young male had been drinking from a water puddle in the parking lot and that this was the 2nd time this week the young male had been seen wandering around. Mr. [WITNESS #1] pointed out a house located on Wolfe Street that he believed the child belonged too. Mr. [WITNESS #1] only wished to provide his name and no further information to officers but was overly concerned for the safety of the child.
Officers were able to identify the house described by Mr. [WITNESS #1] as [600 BLOCK] Wolfe Street. Upon arriving at this location I knocked on the door and made contact with a older white female and asked if a young white male lived at this location. The female advised me yes and that the little boy was asleep in the bed. I asked if the young white male was wearing a diaper and she relied yes. The older white female was completely unaware that the child had been missing from this location. Shortly after the Mother of the child identified as Katherine Kirkland walked out onto the front porch area and when asked if she knew the whereabouts of her child she replied he was playing in the first floor playroom singing 30 mins ago. Ms. Kirkland stated her son [VICTIM #1] must have went out through the back door and that someone forgot to latch the door shut last night.
After further investigation Ms. Kirkland advised that [VICTIM #1] was diagnosed with level 3 Autism in January 2024 by DR. [REDACTED]. I asked Ms. Kirkland had [VICTIM #1] ever gotten out of the house before to which she replied 1 previous time before today. Ms. Kirkland also stated DFCS made contact with her Monday 2 weeks prior for [VICTIM #1] being unattended, Having a rash and not being properly secured in a car seat. DFCS was contacted at 0803 hrs through service by the shift supervisor. DFCS arrived on scene at 0838 hrs and officers made contact with [REDACTED]. CID was notified and arrived on scene. Officers had been dispatched to this location on 08/20/2024 in reference to a welfare check on this child.
Ms. [REDACTED] conducted her investigation with Ms. Kirkland and ultimately decided to create a safety plan with Ms. Kirkland for the safety and safe keeping of [VICTIM #1]. Once Ms. [REDACTED] was finished with her duties I approached Ms. Kirkland to place her under arrest for Cruelty to Children in the 2nd degree for criminal negligence of her son [VICTIM #1] due to him having diagnosed autism and allowing him to wander unattended multiple times and being completely unaware that [VICTIM #1] was missing from the house. Ms. Kirkland was placed in handcuffs, double locked, checked for tightness and searched before she was placed into my patrol vehicle. I then transported Ms. Kirkland to the CDC where she was released to CDC staff. an Abis form was completed and [VICTIM #1] was left with an adult at [600 BLOCK] Wolfe Street.
[End of Narrative]