Richmond parents accused of leaving 2-year-old twins home alone
RICHMOND, Ind. — The parents of two-year-old twins are accused of leaving the children alone in their family's Richmond apartment.
Michael Shaun Dale, 43, and Kimberly Brooke Dale, 35, were charged Thursday in Wayne Superior Court 1 with neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison.
A Richmond police officer who was providing security at the Greenwood Apartments, in the 1400 block of South 16th Street, reported he observed surveillance video that showed the Dales leaving the apartment — with the children apparently inside — for about 35 minutes on the morning of July 21.
Interviewed later that day, Kimberly Dale reportedly at first tried to persuade the officer she had left the twins in the care of a neighbor.
Later, she said she "always left the door unlocked in case the neighbor heard the children crying through the walls."
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The officer said other residents had earlier expressed concerns over the twins apparently being left alone.
An official with the Indiana Department of Child Services was notified by the officer and came to the apartment complex on July 22, but the children were then apparently not at their home.
The twins more recently observed their third birthday, according to court documents.
An affidavit alleged that in being left "unattended ... for approximately 35 minutes with no parental care, (the children) were placed in a situation that could have endangered their life or health and deprived both dependents of necessary support."
Michael Dale's record includes convictions for sexual misconduct with a minor, possession of a controlled substance, forgery, fraud, resisting law enforcement, driving while intoxicated and theft.
Kimberly Dale has been convicted of auto theft and possession of a controlled substance.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Richmond parents accused of leaving 2-year-old twins home alone
