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Jun 26, 2006 2:38 pm US/Central
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Mom Accused Of Leaving Baby Home Alone To Buy Beer
SALISBURY, Mass. (CBS) ―
A Salisbury, Mass. mother was sent to a detox center for 30 days Monday after she was charged with child neglect.
Police say 24-year-old Crystal Murphy got drunk and left her eight-month-old son home alone Saturday to get more beer.
Murphy was crying and shaking as she was arraigned in Newburyport District Court Monday morning.
Prosecutors say she was extremely intoxicated when she left her child unsupervised at her home late Saturday night.
Anne Haire, a concerned neighbor, called police.
"She wanted me to give her a ride to the store to get beer," said Haire. "I said it's 11 o'clock at night, your baby needs to be in bed."
The baby was taken into custody by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and is said to be fine.
Haire said when Murphy returned, she had no idea her son had been taken away.
"She said 'I was right here'," Haire said. "I said no you weren't. The police have Nathan. She goes 'No they don't he's in his crib, I just checked a minute ago' and that's when she realized that they had him."
Murphy showed up at the police station about an hour after officers went to her house.
"She was really intoxicated, she was unsteady on her feet," said Salisbury Detective Mark Thomas, "during the booking process she thought she was in the state of Maine."
The boy's father, Brian Stelchook, said Murphy is on anti-anxiety medication and that when she mixed it with alcohol it caused her to make this tragic mistake.
"It's so heart wrenching, it's so heart wrenching." Stelchook said.
Prosecutors claim Murphy has been using drugs since she was 16 years old and she's now addicted to crack and alcohol.
This is the second time DSS has investigated the family. Prosecutors say the first time was several months ago after a report of domestic violence. Both Murphy and Stelchook were allegedly using crack cocaine in their home.
Stelchook told CBS4's Karen Anderson he will now try to gain custody of their son.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)