Texas – In a disturbing incident in Texas, a 24-year-old mother, identified as D. Celaya, has been charged after her toddler was discovered on the street nearly a quarter mile from home wearing nothing but a diaper. The 2-year-old’s mother, authorities say, didn’t notice he was gone for more than two hours because she was high on drugs. Celaya is facing charges of abandoning or endangering a child with knowledge, recklessness, and criminal negligence. She was booked into the county’s adult detention center on Tuesday evening, July 29, and released hours later after posting a $50,000 bond.
The case came to light when a local woman, identified as G. Rauhuff, was driving her children to school. At the corner of the street, Rauhuff spotted the young boy walking alone. He had no shoes, no shirt, and no parent in sight. Fearing for his safety, Rauhuff took the child to her home to care for him before contacting the sheriff’s office at around 9:30 a.m. Deputies later confirmed the boy had been wandering roughly a quarter mile from his residence. Celaya, however, did not call authorities about her missing son until more than two hours later. When asked by deputies how long she had noticed he was gone, she replied, “a couple of minutes,” though evidence contradicted her statement.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at Celaya’s home shortly after the report. They immediately noticed a “strong odor of marijuana” coming from inside. A search revealed marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the residence. Security footage later reviewed by investigators showed the toddler leaving the home through an open garage door at approximately 9:10 a.m. Just over two hours later, a woman—possibly Rauhuff—was seen knocking on Celaya’s door. She did not answer because, according to her statement, she did not know the visitor. Authorities determined the child had walked out unnoticed, and Celaya failed to realize he was missing until long after neighbors had intervened.
Neighbors expressed outrage and disbelief that the boy had been able to wander so far without his mother noticing. Rauhuff, who rescued the child, described the moment she saw him as alarming, saying she could not believe no adult was nearby. The sheriff’s office confirmed the child’s father later arrived at the residence, though his role in the investigation remains unclear. Child Protective Services has since placed the boy with relatives. CPS also reported that additional children were removed from the household, though the exact number has not been disclosed.
Celaya now faces serious child endangerment charges. Though she posted bond late Tuesday night and was released from custody, the case is far from over. Prosecutors say the evidence, from her delayed response to the strong smell of marijuana in her home, points to a pattern of negligence. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the quick actions of Rauhuff likely prevented the situation from ending in tragedy. Officials also reminded the public that even brief lapses in supervision can have devastating consequences.
The incident serves as a painful reminder of the dangers children face when left unsupervised. A 2-year-old managed to walk nearly a quarter mile from home in the Texas heat, unnoticed by the person entrusted to care for him. Celaya is scheduled for her first court hearing in the coming weeks. For now, the boy remains in the custody of family members, while authorities continue to evaluate the safety of the household and determine the full scope of neglect. What began as an ordinary morning for one mother driving her kids to school turned into the rescue of a vulnerable toddler — and the arrest of a parent accused of abandoning her duty in the most critical of moments.
