A single mother of two was arrested and charged with abandoning her children after police found them in a Houston mall eatery, but the children's mother argues that she didn't abandon them and that her children were never out of her line of sight.
According to KHOU, Laura Browder had a job interview with a company, with the company and Browder agreeing to meet at the Memorial City Mall food court for the interview. Browder says she didn't have enough time to get child care for her 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. So she arrived at the mall and set the two children up at a table that she says was no more than 30 feet away. She says her children were always within eyesight.
Browder accepted the job, and when she walked over to get her children, a police officer arrested her.
Officials from child protective services told KHOU that the incident was still early in the investigation phase, but added that they could help Browder find day care should she need it.
In a statement issued by Browder, the mother notes that she is a college student and did not mean to intentionally harm her children or her good name, and that this incident is not indicative of her mothering.
"This was very unfortunate this happened. I had a [sic] interview with a very great company with lots of career growth. I am a college student and mother of two. I would never put my name, background or children in harms [sic] way intentionally. I have a promising future ahead of me regardless of what the media tries to portray me as," Browder said in her statement.
"A judge released my children to me knowing that I was a good mother who just made a not so smart decision," Browder's statement continued.
Browder added that she has no idea if the arrest has ruined her chance of being hired by the company.
Read more at KHOU.