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Police: Mom returned home drunk with cocaine in purse after children found without food, water

SHELBY, N.C. — Six children were found alone without water, diapers or substantial food after police said they found their mother drunk and with cocaine in her purse.

The oldest of the children called their grandmother for help Monday night.

The children's mother, 32-year-old Dawana Lee, has been released from jail.

Her father told Channel 9 that Lee made a mistake and it will never happen again and added that

the children adore their mother.

(Dawana Lee)

Social workers are trying to determine if Lee should be reunited with her children.

An 11-year-old in the home said they were scared and home alone for about four hours with no running water.

The grandmother got in a car and headed toward the home on Green Oaks Drive while calling police.

"They don't have any water, anything. I need help,” the woman said to police. "They all in the house by themselves. I just made it up here, but y'all need to come and help my grandchildren."

Police said the children were scattered in the house crying.

There was a marijuana bong in the house, according to police.

Shelby police arrived before Lee returned home.

An officer said she was so drunk she crawled out of the car and had to pull herself up onto her feet.

"Found an open container of alcohol, actually two open containers in her car,” said Shelby Police Department Capt. Steve Canipe.

Police said they found cocaine in her purse when they got her to jail.

Police said their first concern was getting the children handed over to their grandmother.

“That's the scary part,” Canipe said. “What actually was going on that we don't know about. What actually happened at that house before we were ever involved."

Neighbors were hesitant to speak on camera, but one said he didn't realize there were six children in the house.

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