Amite Woman Arrested in Lake Charles for Child Desertion

An Amite, La. woman is behind bars and charged with child desertion after leaving her 8-month-old unattended on a second-floor balcony of a Lake Charles motel.

Deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a motel located on Hwy 90 in Lake Charles on Monday, November 1, at about 10 pm, after a baby was left alone on a second-floor balcony. The child, an 8-month-old girl, was in the care of her mother, Shaila A. Walker, 18, of Amite, La. The father of the child left walking to a local store and reportedly "observed Walker leaving the motel and yelling at him to go get his child", said a media release.

Deputies met with Walker when she returned to the motel, and she was then taken to CPSO for questioning. Detectives learned she left the baby girl unattended to go to McDonald's and returned about 10 minutes later.  Walker was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with child desertion. Her bond is pending.