Missouri mom allegedly abandoned 4-year-old at a truck stop, denied to police that she had a daughter

NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. (TCN) — A mother is facing multiple charges in connection with allegedly abandoning her 4-year-old daughter at a truck stop.

According to court documents obtained by KZRG, the investigation into Kayla Marie Christensen began on Oct. 23 at about 3 a.m. when police were notified of a small child wandering around a truck stop parking lot by herself.

When police tracked down Christensen, she allegedly denied having a daughter and said her only children were the two boys in the car,
Law & Crime reports. Police say Christensen abandoned the girl and did not intend to return for her.

According to court documents, Christensen allegedly left her two other children alone so she could gamble at a casino, KZRG reports. In addition, the children allegedly did not have proper car seats and were in the presence of drug paraphernalia.

Christensen was arrested on Oct. 23, according to Law & Crime, and was charged with one count of first-degree child abandonment and two counts of first-degree child endangerment.

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