The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department said Friday that the parents of two children found abandoned in a neighborhood have been located and interviewed and that the Rankin County Youth Court has immediate jurisdiction of the cases.
The department said the youth court’s jurisdiction, which applies because of the children’s ages, limits the release of additional information. The department said the investigation is ongoing and that criminal charges may be filed against one or both parents.
Deputies responded at about 6:47 p.m. to the Castlewoods Subdivision near Azalea Court after the two children were found abandoned, the department said. Deputies and residents canvassed the neighborhood for several hours before the parents were located.
The children, described as two black girls under 5, were taken into the custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services. The department said the girls were wearing matching pink shirts with white bows and pink-and-white skirts; they are not believed to be twins.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department asked anyone with information to call 601-825-1480. The department thanked residents, volunteers and the news media for help locating the parents. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
