Toddlers found wandering with drug paraphernalia in Gilmanton
Woman driving by takes children to police
Two children are safe after a passerby found them wandering the streets with drug paraphernalia in Gilmanton, New Hampshire.
Police said that a 2- and 3-year-old were found in the Sawyer Lake area Wednesday morning, and one of them was carrying a glass drug pipe and a lighter.
Police said the girls left a home on Mallard Avenue and were found walking alone less than a mile away.
"I stopped my car and rolled down my window, and I asked them, 'Which way are you going? What are you looking for?'" said the Massachusetts woman who found the girls. "And they said they are looking for mommy."
The woman asked not to be identified. She said she has a home in Gilmanton and happened to be driving by when she spotted the children. She said the 2-year-old was wearing just a diaper and shoes, and the 3-year-old was holding a drug pipe and a lighter.
"When I went to put them in the car, I noticed that the older girl was holding something in her hand, and I said, 'Why don't I take that?'" the woman said.
She took the girls to police.
"To have such young children be walking alone like that with the things they had in their possession is heartbreaking," Sgt. Casey Brennan said.
A short time later, police found the girls' mother sleeping in a home on Mallard Avenue, police said.
"Right now, it's under investigation, but there will be some endangerment charges, along with some drug charges," Brennan said.
Authorities said the girls are now staying with their father, and the Division of Children, Youth and Families is involved.
Police are not releasing the name of the mother, but they said she's from Northfield.
Neighbors said they are in disbelief at what happened.
"When I first heard about it earlier this morning, I was horrified," resident Gene Nichols said.
The woman who helped bring the girls to safety said she is thankful they're OK.
"I'm glad I was there," she said. "God knows what could have happened. I was glad that I was able to help them out. Life goes on, and hopefully the girls will be fine."
The woman said the girls were sweet and showed no signs of neglect.