KILLEEN, TX – A Texas mother faces charges after allegedly abandoning her toddler to travel to see a man she met online, according to local authorities. The incident left the 16-month-old child alone in a potentially hazardous environment while the 25-year-old mother, Reese Louise Myers, ventured out of state.

Police in Killeen responded to concerns on July 28 about a child reportedly found near a damaged window. On arrival at the West Hallmark Avenue apartment, officers discovered the toddler partially outside a window covered with plexiglass and cardboard. The child was allegedly clad only in a T-shirt, with signs of neglect evident.

Inside the residence, the child was unsupervised except for the presence of two dogs, police state. Officers reached out to Myers, who informed them she was in San Antonio, 160 miles away, visiting an acquaintance she met on a dating app.

Myers claimed to have left her child with a babysitter, a person she said she had contacted via social media. However, when authorities spoke with the alleged babysitter, she stated that she had no recent contact with Myers since last December and presented evidence from their online correspondence to support her account.

The apartment’s condition suggested a deliberate intention to keep the child alone. Police noted strategic precautions like closed doors and a blocked-off kitchen area, hinting at a premeditated absence.

Authorities requested Myers to return to Killeen, a request she reportedly ignored. Her arrest was carried out by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office in California on November 5, indicating she was located at the Fort Irwin Army Base, over a thousand miles from where the incident occurred.

Following extradition, Myers was returned to Texas, where she now faces formal charges related to child abandonment or endangerment. The toddler, meanwhile, received care at a local hospital and was subsequently placed under the supervision of Child Protective Services.

This case highlights ongoing concerns over child welfare and the responsibilities of parenting, particularly in situations involving long-distance travel and internet connections.