Mother Arrested After Leaving Son in Van for 14 Hours


A woman was arrested for leaving her 4-year-old son in a broken down van on the side of the road for about 14 hours, authorities said.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said Valise Scott Kenon of Lithonia was charged with one count of cruelty to children after the boy was found by deputies in the van Thursday afternoon. Authorities were tipped off by the boy's grandmother, who called concerned her grandson was in the van, which was parked along Georgia Highway 16 east of Eatonton.


"Thank goodness he opened a door," Sills said, adding temperatures soared into the mid-90s that day.


Kenon told police she thought her son was riding with his aunt in the three-car convoy traveling between Sandersville and Atlanta and was not in the van. She was released on $2,600 bond.


The boy, who was not named, was released from the hospital into the custody of the Department of Family and Children's Services.