HIGHLAND PARK, LOS ANGELES – A 19-year-old woman has been arrested after her nearly 2-year-old son was found alone in a car following an attempted vehicle theft in the Highland Park neighborhood, Los Angeles police confirmed.
The child’s mother, Bianca Slaughter, was taken into custody and booked on felony charges, though the Los Angeles Police Department has not disclosed the specific charges. Authorities said the arrest stems from an incident reported Sunday on North Avenue 52.
According to police, a man called authorities after discovering someone attempting to steal his car. The suspect, described as a Hispanic man, fled the scene before officers arrived. When the car owner checked his vehicle, he was shocked to find a toddler inside, along with a dog.
The discovery triggered a search for the child’s family, but police said no one came forward in the days following the incident. On Wednesday, LAPD announced that the child had been identified, along with his biological parents.
The toddler has since been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, where he will remain while the investigation continues. The dog found in the vehicle was taken into the care of Los Angeles County Animal Services. Officials said the animal did not have a license tag or microchip.
Police have not explained how the child and dog ended up in the vehicle or detailed the circumstances leading to Slaughter’s arrest. The investigation remains ongoing, LAPD said.
