WASHINGTON — A 35-year-old Arizona homeless woman faces child abuse charges after she allegedly left her two young children in the car while she interviewed for a job.
Her children have been put in the custody of Child Protective Services as she sits in jail.
The story of Shanesha Taylor, a single mother in need of a job, is one that’s prompted an online fundraising drive to help Taylor with her legal expenses and other expenses.
“There are some of us that feel that Shanesha was in an unfortunate situation that sadly an economy like ours is putting many single mother’s (SIC) in a position to make terrible mistakes like this,” writes the organizer of the drive, 24-year-old Amanda Bishop, who is asking people to help Taylor in any way they can.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the fundraiser had raised more than $22,000. It’s goal had been $9,000.
Police in Scottsdale, Ariz., say a bystander called them March 20 to report the two boys — who turned out to be 2 years old and 6 months old — in a Dodge Durango. The car, with its windows slightly opened, was parked in direct sunlight in an office complex, police said.
Taylor returned to the car about 45 minutes later and told police she just had an interview and didn’t have anyone to care for her children.
“She was upset. This is a sad situation all around. She said she was homeless. She needed the job,” Scottsdale Police Sgt. Mark Clark told CBS5.
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