Lorraine Sue Garza, 45, was arrested after being accused of abandoning her three children for nearly two weeks.
According to the arrest report, a woman called police because she was giving three children, ages 11, 13, and 15, food and letting them shower at her home. The children told her that their mother left the house on June 3 and hasn't been back since.
San Antonio police spoke with the 15-year-old girl, who told them that their mother just left and took the family's only cell phone with her, so there was no way they could contact her. The water was turned off at the house and all of the food spoiled, which forced them to ask neighbors for help.
An officer inspected the home the children were living in and found spoiled food, insects all over the floor, and the temperature inside the home extremely hot. The temperature outside was 98 degrees. Trash and clothing were scattered on the floor, as well as animal feces on the carpet, according to the police report.
The teenager told police that all three girls sleep in her room because that the ceiling fan in her room is the only one working. The heat was so unbearable inside the home that the teenager asked the officer if they could continue the interview outside, according to the arrest affidavit.
The teenager told officers that all three girls had been adopted by Garza.
The
Texas Department of Family and Adult Protective Services was called and the children were removed from the home.
Records from the Converse Water Department show the water to the home was turned off on May 21 for non-payment.
Garza was released on a $3,000 bond.
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