WOOD COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A West Virginia woman is facing charges after authorities discovered her three young children left unattended, with two of them found outside their apartment near a laundromat.
According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy B.H. Thornburg responded to a call at 2987 Dutch Ridge Road, Apartment 20, regarding unsupervised children located by concerned neighbors. Upon arrival, two of the children were found wearing only diapers, with no pants, near the apartment’s laundromat.
The children’s mother, identified as Angelica Belfiore, later returned from a neighboring apartment. When questioned about how long she had been gone, Belfiore provided conflicting answers, initially saying 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, before admitting she was unsure.
Sgt. R.A. Waters conducted a check of Belfiore’s apartment, which was unlocked. Inside, an unattended eight-month-old infant was discovered asleep. No adults were present in the residence at the time.
During questioning, Belfiore reportedly admitted she had been smoking marijuana with a neighbor in an upstairs apartment. Deputies noted that she appeared impaired, with difficulty answering questions and slurred speech. Belfiore also reportedly asked officers where her children were.
The neighbors who found the two children outside told authorities they had located them around 8:30 p.m. and were unsure how long they had been there. They noted the children’s legs felt cold, raising concerns about their welfare.
Belfiore is charged with three counts of child neglect. She is currently in jail under a 60,000 dollar bond.
