LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police arrest a mother after they say she left her toddler and baby at home in poor conditions.
WDRB spoke with the children's father, who is not happy with his wife. The family immigrated from Sudan, and they are juggling several jobs while parenting two children. But the father says his wife knows better than to leave their kids at home.
"We're wanting to talk to you about your kids yesterday, what happened," said WDRB reporter Rachel Collier to a man walking with two small children. WDRB News caught up with David Nul in the parking lot of the Iroquois Gardens Apartments off of Newcut Road as he was on his way to take his children to the doctor. "Oh, you're trying to take them to the doctor right now?" asked Collier. "Yea," Nul responded. "Is it normal for you all to leave them at home?" Collier asked. "Do you know why your wife did it yesterday?" "That's not normal," said Nul. "She went to the library, I was at work."
David Nul was working at the Home of the Innocents -- one of his three jobs. "I work three jobs. That's why I let her stay with the kids."
"So it's not normal for her to leave them at home?" asked Collier. "No, it's ridiculous. This is not good. She knows that," Nul said.
Police say his wife, Atem Akon, left their little boy and girl at home by themselves Monday. A contractor spraying for bedbugs contacted management about the abandoned children. Danny Barr says he called 911. "Both kids were in there just bawling their eyes out," said Barr.
Police say the kids looked sick and smelled of urine and feces. "They were snotty nosed and crying and they were hot. You could tell they were real sweaty and hot," added Barr.
Police say David was shocked and extremely upset when he showed up at the hospital to see his children, and believe he had no idea what his wife had done. She is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Talking with David, you could hear the kids were sick as they continued coughing. He was upset with his wife, who's going to school at Jefferson Community College. She told police she left the kids to go study at the library. "I just told her that it's not good, that next time don't do it because when you just go close, not go very far away to library, you must leave them with somebody."
Nul will not be charged. The director of the Home of the Innocents says they offer counseling to employees who need it, and are particularly sensitive to immigrant families and getting them adjusted to culture in America.
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Atem Gak Akon (Source: Louisville Metro Corrections)
