News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Argument blamed for children left at hospital
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
CHILDREN LEFT HERE: Three children were left at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center on Oct. 28, 2008, after the mother and her boyfriend had an argument, Gilbert police say.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Police say an argument between a Queen Creek mother and her boyfriend caused the pair to forget the woman’s three young children at a Gilbert hospital late Tuesday.
Kathleen Eidson, 34, told police that she left her children, ages 7, 4 and 2, in the custody of her boyfriend at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center at 10 p.m. to search for her 14-year-old niece who had recently run away, according to police Sgt. Mark Marino. The family was waiting for the 2-year-old to receive medical treatment.
Eidson called her boyfriend an hour later to tell him that her vehicle had run out of gas and he left the three children at the hospital to help her, Marino said.
While the boyfriend was assisting Eidson, Marino said the pair began to argue and later separated. He returned to his home while Eidson “went about her business.”
Child Protective Services now has custody of all three children, according to Mercy Gilbert spokeswoman Julie Graham.
Graham said the hospital officials finally contacted police at 2:30 a.m. after they attempted to contact the couple numerous times over a three hour period.
Eidson contacted the hospital at 6:30 a.m. after receiving the hospital voicemails.
Police have not identified the boyfriend and Marino said any possible charges against the mother would be determined through an investigation.
Graham said the hospital followed all proper procedures by contacting Gilbert police and CPS. Graham would not release the identity or position of the hospital employee who was left to care for the children, but said the children were sleeping throughout the evening and did not know they had been left at the hospital.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: