WASHINGTON — A mother from Philadelphia is accused of leaving her quadriplegic son in the woods for days while she visited her boyfriend in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Nyia Parler, a 41-year-old Southwest Philadelphia resident, boarded a bus to Montgomery County on Monday. On Sunday, Philadelphia police issued a warrant for her arrest, says Capt. Paul Starks, a spokesman with the Montgomery County Police Department.
She’s facing several charges, including reckless endangerment and neglect of a care-dependent person, according to NBC Washington.
Parler is at an area hospital, Starks says. Once her treatment is completed, police will take her into custody. Parler’s 21-year-old has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He was found Friday night lying beside his wheelchair with only a blanket and a bible.
Parler’s son was hospitalized with dehydration, malnutrition, a cut to his back and eye injuries, says Lt. John Walker with the Philadelphia police department.
“This kid’s obviously a fighter,” Walker says. “To see that kid lying there, it’s heartbreaking to see that another human — especially a mother — could treat someone like that.”
Walker says Parler’s son was exposed to the elements and other dangers. “A lot of things could have happened out there,” he says. “Obviously he’s in the middle of a wooded area. You have wild animals there, this kid could not defend himself. He does not function at all.”
His school became concerned about him and called an aunt. When the mother was contacted in Maryland, police said, she lied about his whereabouts.
“She indicated to both family members and police officers that the child was with her in Maryland,” Walker says.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
