Criminal charges were filed Friday against the 19-year-old mother of a toddler who was found abandoned along with a dog inside a car in the Highland Park area.
Bianca Slaughter pleaded not guilty to one felony count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death involving the toddler on Sunday, along with one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury involving a separate alleged victim five days earlier.
She was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $155,000 bail and is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Jan. 15 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to allow the case against her to proceed to trial, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services published the child’s photograph and implored the public for help finding his family after the boy was found around 9:55 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of North Avenue 52 after a car owner reported a man tried to steal his vehicle before fleeing on foot.
The vehicle’s owner then found the child and a dog inside his vehicle, according to the LAPD.
Detectives searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
Police also said Wednesday that the 18-month-old boy has been identified, as were his “biological parents.”
Slaughter was arrested late Tuesday and booked Wednesday, according to police.
“The child will remain in the care of the Department of Child and Family Services until he can be placed in a safe environment,” the LAPD stated. “The dog found during the incident remains in the care of Los Angeles County Animal Services, with no license tag or microchip. Detectives are following leads to identify the owner. Anyone with information about the dog’s owner is requested to contact the listed tip lines so the dog may be returned home.”
Police had earlier said the dog had appeared familiar with the child.
The suspect who fled from the scene Sunday is not the child’s father, according to Fox11, which reported that the suspect allegedly used baby wipes to remove his fingerprints from inside the car.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the LAPD Northeast Division watch commander at 323-561-3211, Detective Ryan Lamar at 39284@lapd.online, or the DCFS Hotline at 1-800-540-4000.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Those wishing to remain anonymous may call LARegional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or contact www.lacrimestoppers.org.