Uptown Parents Allegedly Left Two Kids Home Alone During Vegas Trip
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Mar 21, 2012 8:30PM
Two parents face child endangerment charges after allegedly leaving their two children at home alone for two days while they took a trip to Las Vegas. The Uptown couple of Shanpreta Howard, 34, and Antowain Johnson, 36, each face two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment.
On Feb. 23, the 12-year-old boy told his teacher that his parents had left for Las Vegas, leaving him and his 9-year-old sister alone in their home in Uptown, according to the police report.Authorities contacted the father, who told police he planned to return to Chicago on Feb. 25. Officers then contacted the children's aunt, who said she could take care of the children.
Illinois child abandonment laws require all children under 13 years old to have supervision by someone over 14 years old if left alone for more than 24 hours.