Independence woman charged after child found wandering neighborhood
An Independence woman is facing child endangerment charges after one child in her care was found alone in an Independence neighborhood with multiple injuries, and another was found with signs of neglect in the woman’s home.
Amber Harris faces two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, creating substantial risk, according to a Jackson County court document.
Independence police officers were called to the intersection of an Independence neighborhood around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, where they located a child “appearing to be in distress,” according to a probable cause statement in support of Harris’ arrest.
The child “appeared visibly neglected, with multiple bruises, bug bites, and general unkemptness,” the probable cause statement said. Officers noted the child was non-verbal, and may be on the Autism Spectrum.
Officers responded to a residence in the neighborhood with its front door “wide open,” according to the probable cause statement. A second child was asleep on the couch of the residence, and appeared “unclean,” with scratches on their back.
The probable cause statement claims officers announced their presence to no reply before entering the residence. They reported the residence was in “deplorable condition,” with trash and insects present.
Harris was located upstairs in the residence where she was arrested, according to the probable cause statement. The children were transported to an area hospital, where a relative told investigators Harris had previously lost custody of the children in 2023, and had only recently regained custody of them.
In an interview with Harris, the woman allegedly told police the first child had been “kidnapped” by the Missouri Division of Family services, according to the probable cause statement. She alleged an area hospital was responsible for causing a staff infection on their foot.
When officers asked Harris about the child wandering near the road, the woman allegedly said she “usually puts a couch in front of her door” so the child couldn’t get out, according to the probable cause statement. She said she forgot to secure the door that day.
The woman also allegedly claimed the residence’s front door lock does not work and that she had told her landlord about the issue and he refused to help, according to the probable cause statement. She allegedly claimed the child has tried to “escape the house” multiple times.
Harris is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a 10% $10,000 bond, according to the jail’s inmate listing. She is set to appear for an initial appearance on Oct. 8, according to a Jackson County court document.
