A dirty, malnourished girl was found wandering on a Middletown street Wednesday.
The girl was spotted by a woman on Liberty Street, who comforted the child and called police. Officers determined the girl had come from an apartment at 71 Berlin Street. That's where they found Jessie Meeks, 24, who told police she had been watching the child, according to police.
The girl's mother, 20-year-old Brandi Massita, had gone to work, leaving her daughter in Meeks' care, police said. Meeks told cops the two had been up until 4:30 a.m. with a group of men the night before. The apartment door had been left open, and the girl walked out. Meeks told officers the 4-year-old had not eaten in a day, according to police.
According to police, Meeks had her five children taken from her by DCF, and is currently under investigation by the agency. Despite that, Massita told police she felt it was alright to leave her daughter with Meeks, authorities said.
Police said Massita should have known better, and charged both women with risk of injury to a minor. Both were released on $5,000 bond and will be in court May 4.
