Police: Mother Left Children Home Alone Overnight

A mother has been charged with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child after police say she left her children alone overnight.

Police got involved in the case after a 10-year-old boy showed up crying at his elementary school Monday, and told his teachers that he hadn't seen his mother since the day before.

"[The children] went to school and were obviously upset," Rock Hill Police Lieutenant Brad Redfearn said.

Police said 42-year-old Virginia Garcia left her house on Rose Garden Court Sunday afternoon, and didn't come home. Her three children, ages 10, 9 and 6 were left home alone.

Officers believe she may have gone to a Super Bowl party.

On Monday morning, police reports said the 10-year-old woke up his two siblings, fed them breakfast, and got them ready for school. He made sure one of them got on the bus to another school, and then he walked to Ebinport Elementary with the 6-year-old.

He was in tears when he arrived.

Department of Social Services officials got in touch with Garcia by phone, and she drove to the school from work.

According to reports, Garcia told officers that she didn't think leaving her children unattended overnight was a problem. She also said she planned to pay her 10-year-old $50 to watch the other two children while she was away.

Garcia was charged with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Police also discovered that she was driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI arrest.

The three children are now in DSS custody, and Garcia is out of jail on a $15,000 bond.