Melissa Henderson's daughter, Linley, was engaged with online learning in 2020 when COVID shut down schools. As the teaching grabbed her attention, the 14-Year-Old didn’t notice when her brother, Thaddeus, slipped out of the house when he saw his friend outside and went to play with him in Blairsville, Georgia. But within 10 to 15mins, Linley observed he was gone but found the 4-Year-Old at his friend’s house down the street. At the time, Melissa’s friend had called the police, and about two weeks later, she was arrested in front of her children. Reason Magazine has reported that if convicted, Melissa, who’s presently charged with reckless criminal conduct, might have to face a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of $1000.

Melissa Henderson is facing jail after letting her 14-year-old daughter babysit her younger siblings while she went to work.

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Right after the incident, Fox News reported police took down her information but returned nearly two weeks after with five fleet cars after the arresting officer, Deputy Sheriff Marc Pilote, found out that Thaddeus had wandered outside. He had written in his arrest report that anything could have happened to the boy after he left home, including being kidnapped, run over, or bitten by a venomous snake. 

The Georgia-based has been charged with reckless criminal conduct after her son Thaddeus, 4, escaped from home while in his sister's care.

Melissa Henderson

Melissa herself has since spoken following her arrest. Speaking with Reason, she said: “I almost don’t have words for how low it made me feel. To truly feel in the bottom of my heart that if I’m anything, it’s a good mother, and everything you do is for your kids. To be stripped of that to the point where you are handcuffed in front of them.” 

Her eldest daughter Linley was reportedly participating in online learning when Thaddeus slipped out to meet his friend.

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She was taken to Union Country Jail, where she recalls curling up in a ball in the corner and just wanting to hide. But thankfully, her ex-husband bailed her out. Criminal proceedings are now ongoing for two years as Melissa's attorney, David DeLugas, argues the charge is unconstitutional and seeks to dismiss it. He has since cited a Georgia Supreme Court ruling in 1997 that ruled that charging a mom for a typical parenting decision is unconstitutional. 

After around 10 or 15 minutes, Linley realized he was missing but found him at a nearby house with his friend.

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DeLugas, working pro-bono for Melissa’s family, also argued that Georgia’s own child protective guidelines say children can babysit at the age of 13 with a parent’s permission. He told Fox News: “They claim the same happened a year earlier. So you’re saying a year earlier, she left her children in charge of her then 13-Year-Old, almost 14-Year-Old and somehow two rights make a wrong. It wasn’t wrong then, and it’s not wrong now.”

But the neighbor had taken the boys inside and phoned 911. Weeks later, police turned up on Melissa's doorstep and arrested her.

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Nonetheless, the Union County District Attorney Jeff Langley has said he believed the cops were acting prudently in their arrest as Thaddeus had been seen outside on his own once before. On the other hand, Melissa claimed her daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD but had a GPA of 4.45, was vice president of the 4-H Club, broke school records in varsity track, completed the Red Cross Childcare Program, and is certified in CPR. 

However, Melissa was bailed out by her ex-husband, but criminal proceedings are still running as she faces up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.

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While it’s unknown where Melissa had worked, she’s at the moment afraid to leave her children alone, and DeLugas revealed she hasn’t returned to work since her arrest. “This has just been a nightmare,” She told 11 Alive. Thankfully, a GoFundMe has since been set up for Melissa’s legal expenses. As of this time of writing, it had raised over $9000. 

While it's reported it was the second time her young son had been found wandering outside in a year, Melissa's attorney David DeLugas is fighting to get the case dismissed.

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