Memphis mom Keenia Haynes allegedly left four young kids alone as toddlers wandered into traffic — returning home with a beer

“I ONLY WENT TO THE STORE TO BUY FOOD FOR THIRTY MINUTES”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, POLICE SAY 35-YEAR-OLD KEENIA HAYNES LEFT FOUR CHILDREN UNDER FOUR ALONE IN A DIRTY HOME WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING WHILE TWO WANDERED INTO TRAFFIC AND AN INFANT PAIR WOULD NOT WAKE… AND SHE HAS NOW BEEN ARRESTED ON FOUR CHILD-NEGLECT CHARGES.

Memphis police officers responded to the 3900 block of Ridgedale Street just after 2:45 p.m. on August 26.

They arrived in the area following a report concerning child welfare.

Upon arriving, officers saw a 2-year-old child and a 3-year-old child run directly into the street.

Police said the two young children were nearly struck by a car in traffic.

The toddlers then pointed the responding officers toward their home.

Officers entered the residence and discovered that no adults were inside.

Four children under the age of 4 had allegedly been left inside the house without supervision.

According to an arrest affidavit, the home had no air conditioning and was not clean.

Officers located two-month-old twins inside the house secured in car seats.

The affidavit states that the infants were asleep and would not wake.

Paramedics were called to the home to evaluate the sleeping babies.

Medical responders said the twins appeared small for their age.

First responders fed the infants, after which the babies became responsive, Action News 5 reported.

Officers also conducted a check of the kitchen area.

They found a bleach bottle in the kitchen.

Officers said the 3-year-old child had been attempting to put the bleach into another bottle.

Police have not reported that the child swallowed any of the bleach.

Then, roughly 30 minutes later, 35-year-old Keenia Haynes returned to the residence.

Haynes arrived carrying a beer, according to the arrest affidavit.

She spoke with the officers who remained at the property.

Haynes told police that she had gone to Kroger to buy food.

She claimed to officers that she had only been gone for about 30 minutes.

Action News 5 reported that Haynes also stated she had accidentally left her debit card at the store.

Police said Haynes is the mother of eight children.

Her four older children, ages 7, 8, 12 and 13, were at school at the time.

Yet her four youngest children had allegedly been left alone in the house.

Those left behind included the two-month-old twins and the children aged 2 and 3.

State child welfare authorities were notified of the situation.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services was called to arrange custody and care for all eight children.

Haynes was taken into custody following the incident.

On August 27, she was booked and formally charged.

She faces four counts of child neglect.

She is charged, not convicted.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.