I let my 5-year-old walk half a mile alone. Four days later, there was a warrant for my arrest.
Karyann Parkinson was eight months pregnant when her son's solo walk led to a police and CPS investigation and, later, a criminal charge.
Karyann Parkinson, a 36-year-old prospective attorney from Northern Virginia, allowed her 5-year-old son, Sam, to walk half a mile alone in their gated community. This action led to a warrant for her arrest when police arrived at their doorstep, followed by child protection officers. Parkinson was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and received a six-month suspended sentence.
The incident began two weeks before the birth of her fifth child, when she saw police and a security guard outside their home. Sam was carrying goose feathers he had collected from a pond and was hesitant to return home. Despite Karyann asserting he was mature and responsible, CPS insisted that five was too young for a child to be alone. The family moved away due to the stress and humiliation brought on by the situation.
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