Marietta mom accused of leaving children home alone to go shopping at Walmart

Victoria Balogun

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Victoria Balogun

A Cobb County mother was arrested after allegedly leaving her two young daughters home alone while she went shopping at Walmart, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The children, ages 3 and 1, were discovered walking alone near a busy Marietta street Monday afternoon, authorities said. Their mother, 33-year-old Victoria Balogun, was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct after the property manager of her apartment complex found the children and called police.

“I was frightened because they were walking toward Booth Road,” Maciej Fratczak told the news station. “That’s a very busy street ... My first worry was that something happened to their mom and that maybe she was lying dead or something.”

Fratczak said both children were frightened and shoeless, and that the 1-year-old needed her diaper changed.

“It looked like they were by themselves for quite a while,” he said. “If we didn’t stop them, God knows what would have happened. I don’t even want to think about it.”

Police showed up at the home, but Balogun didn’t arrive until about an hour later, authorities said.  According to her warrant, she told officers she was in a hurry to get to Walmart to pick up food for her newborn.

The Division of Family and Children Services is investigating the case, Channel 2 reported. Cobb County jail records show Balogun bonded out Monday after posting $1,870.

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