Police say a 3-year-old boy was found barefoot in a diaper and a tee shirt on the corner of Stow Avenue and Cottage Street in Troy. That is about half a block from the home where he was staying. He was found around 6:30 am. Police and neighbors started looking for his family immediately.
"The cops were tooting their horns around, probably about quarter to seven. I came to find out why and they said they found a young boy wandering the streets," said Frank Christopher, a neighbor.
"They had the kid on the hood for a good hour or so knocking on doors," said Jennifer Sinkevich, another neighbor.
People who live nearby say a woman on her way home from work spotted the boy and called police. Neighbors then came out to help, even changing the boys diaper.
"No one able to identify the child, his parent or guardian," said Sgt. Terry Buchanan, with the Troy Police Department. "Three hours went by before the guardian eventually discovered the child was missing."
That person, according to police, is 22-year-old Andrea Villeneuve from Cottage Street in Troy. She is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Police say she is not the child's biological mother, but was a temporary guardian.
"Someone came to get the child, woke her up to see where the child was and she realized the child wasn't there. That's when she came out and waved down officers," said Sgt. Buchanan.
We knocked on the door of Villeneuve's home, but no one answered. Police are still investigating how the child got out, but think he left through the door. Tonight, neighbors say they are relieved he was found safe.
"Luckily they found the boy and he didn't get hit by a car or he could have been taken," said Sinkevich.
"Definitely lucky because it's a quiet street, neighbors look out for each other around here," said Christopher.
Villeneuve is due in court Monday morning. Family court processes are currently pending. Tonight the little boy is in foster care.
