Mom Faces Jail After Leaving Kids Home Alone for Days During Out-of-State Liposuction Trip 

Domonique Knowles, a 32-year-old mother, is set to be sentenced this week for child endangerment after leaving her three children home alone for nearly three days while she traveled to Florida. Knowles reportedly left her 10-year-old in charge of her two 7-year-old twin daughters with special needs in their home in Westlake, Ohio, giving them no phone access and only minimal check-ins through FaceTime and security cameras. Authorities say her absence placed her children at significant risk.

The situation came to light when the 10-year-old casually mentioned to her teacher that her mother had been ordering Uber Eats and leaving the food at the door. Alarmed, the teacher contacted authorities, leading to a welfare check. Police discovered the home in disarray, with spilled liquids on the floor; one of the twins slipped and fell during their visit.

Prosecutor Michael Maloney criticized Knowles for the lack of parental oversight. “Remote work is one thing; remote mom is another,” Maloney said, highlighting the negligence of her limited monitoring. 

Eventually, police tracked down the children’s grandmother. Maloney said Knowles never told her mom she was leaving the kids alone and going out of state.

“It was worse,” Maloney said. “Mom lied to her mother. Some adults were available to help out.”

Initially, Knowles denied leaving Ohio, but authorities discovered she had spent two nights in Miami. She later claimed the trip was to support a friend undergoing liposuction surgery. However, police bodycam footage captured her stating that her children were capable of staying home alone—a response officers deemed unacceptable, especially given her daughters’ special needs. Additionally, an unlocked patio door heightened concerns about potential risks the children could have faced, including the risk of wandering off or being kidnapped.

Knowles, who was found guilty of child endangerment earlier this month, faces a possible six-month prison sentence. She is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday.