If you’ve ever had a child stay at the hospital , you know that your first priority is making sure they’re well enough to leave and come back home where they can be comfortable in familiar surroundings. But for a couple in Evansville, Indiana, that wasn’t the case.
They refused to retrieve their teenage daughter from the hospital after she suffered from an alleged mental break and checked herself in. Instead, they left her there for six hours.
The child admitted herself to the hospital after a physical altercation with her mother, Yahoo News reported. During the melee, the child bit her mother, Amanda Osmon. The girl found her own way to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. Once her visit was over, hospital staff attempted to make contact with both Osmon and the girl’s stepfather, Jeffrey Scheda. There was no answer.
Eventually, hospital staff reached Osmon around 10 p.m., and the conversation was heated. There was an argument about who would come and pick the girl up. During the conversation, Osmon allegedly told staff, “I’m not dealing with this s— tonight.” Then, she hung up the phone.
Police got involved and made contact with Osmon and Scheda at their home. Osmon told officers that the hospital didn’t tell her that her daughter was discharged until 2:52 a.m., but she was unable to provide proof. There are reports that both parents had gotten drunk and passed out during the time their daughter was at the hospital.
According to Wide Open Country , both Osmon and Scheda believed their 13-year-old daughter would be kept in the hospital overnight. They said this was not the first time she had been admitted. Both Osmon and Scheda were arrested. They face charges of neglect of a dependent. They were taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail, but have since been released.
It’s been a particularly harsh winter in many parts of the United States. Even those who typically don’t see cold temperatures and snow have experienced an arctic blast in the last week. Texas isn’t known for snowy winters, but a storm hit the southern part of the state earlier this week, dumping a reported four inches of snow in the Houston metro area.
The snowy weather mixed with too much alcohol reportedly proved to be a dangerous combination for 31-year-old mother Ayana McClinton, who was found passed out on a snowy sidewalk alongside her two babies. According to ABC 13, deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded about 6:40 a.m. January 21, 2025, after receiving a disturbing call .
“The caller reported an adult female and two babies were laying on the sidewalk. Deputies responded and determined the babies were 2 months old and 1 year old,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared on Facebook .
Gonzalez added, “Mother showed signs of intoxication. EMS arrived and quickly rendered aid to the two babies who were suffering from cold-related injuries.”
ABC 13 reported that McClinton allegedly decided to nap on the sidewalk in the 28-degree weather. She reportedly had an open alcohol container nearby. Deputies arrested her, and she faces two charges of child endangerment, according to court documents obtained by the news outlet.
Emergency responders treated the children for cold-related injuries.
Many people commented on Gonzales’ Facebook post, hoping the children will not suffer long-term effects.
A former child welfare worker wrote, “And this is why I still suffer with trauma (PTSD)from being on the front line at CPS back in the day. You can’t unsee what you saw especially (child death). Thank God EMS arrived on time.”
“Great job contacting 911 right away and making a decision that mom couldn’t make. Mom, rock bottom was when you failed to make healthy decisions for yourself,” someone else commented. “Right now you are creating a rock bottom lifestyle for 2 kids that did not ask for it. I worked with substance abuse and child welfare and I can tell you that there is no excuse for behaviors like this. What you do with your own life is your own responsibility. If you can’t make healthy decisions for your children then you have to bring them to someone who can.”
Gonzales shared a message with residents later in the day urging them to remain safe. He wrote, “Our teammates brave the elements, regardless of the weather. With snow all around us, enjoy the beauty of winter while staying safe on the roads. Please drive carefully, keep warm, and take it easy out there!”
