“Needed a break;” Mother, who left her 2-year-old daughter alone in the home for nine hours just so she could go see a man, was arrested
Tennessee – In a shocking case in Tennessee, a 33-year-old mother, identified as S. Bradshaw, is facing serious charges after abandoning her 2-year-old daughter in their apartment for nine hours while she went to see a man, claiming she “needed a break.” Bradshaw was arrested last week and charged with child abuse and neglect, according to the sheriff’s office. Officials say Bradshaw left her toddler completely alone overnight, without supervision, in what they described as a highly dangerous and irresponsible act.
The incident came to light when maintenance workers at Bradshaw’s apartment complex arrived on Thursday morning for a scheduled check. Upon entering the residence, they discovered the toddler alone and immediately notified authorities. Responding officers from the police department arrived shortly after and launched a search to find the child’s mother. For hours, the toddler remained in the apartment with no adult care, until Bradshaw returned nearly nine hours later, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Body camera footage captured the moment officers confronted her. According to reports, Bradshaw appeared confused and surprised to find police at her door. When questioned by officers, Bradshaw admitted she had driven approximately 25 minutes away to meet with a man. She claimed she had left after her daughter fell asleep and believed she would be back before the child woke up.
Detective J. Chelini of the police department said the mother appeared to justify her decision by pointing to the stress of being a single parent. “She made statements that she is a full-time mother and needed a break and that she had tried to rely on others the night before, but wasn’t able to find anybody,” Chelini explained. Investigators noted that Bradshaw’s actions were not only reckless but placed her daughter in serious risk of harm. Leaving a child that young unsupervised for any amount of time—let alone most of the night—is a direct violation of child welfare laws.
Following the arrest, the toddler was placed in the care of relatives. Officials also confirmed that the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has launched an investigation into the family’s situation and is currently monitoring the child’s well-being. Bradshaw is being held in the county jail on a $25,000 bond. It was not immediately clear if she had retained legal representation or entered a plea.
No injuries were reported, and the child appeared to be physically unharmed, but police and child welfare officials emphasized that the emotional and psychological risk posed by prolonged abandonment is deeply concerning. Neighbors and local residents expressed shock upon learning of the arrest. “I just can’t believe someone would do that,” one resident said. “You don’t just leave a baby behind to go see someone. That’s not what parenting is.”
As the legal process moves forward, authorities are considering further actions depending on the findings of the ongoing child welfare investigation. The case serves as a disturbing reminder of the challenges many parents face in isolation—but also of the clear and critical boundaries in ensuring a child’s safety and well-being. For now, Bradshaw remains behind bars, awaiting her next court appearance as the community grapples with the alarming circumstances that led to the arrest.
