Mother Accused Of Dropping Children At Texas Fire Station Says She Was Just Trying To ‘Help’ Her Kids

A Texas mother was accused of dropping off her two children, ages 9 months and 3 years old, at a Houston fire department because the father was no longer willing to help support the family. The woman, Jasmine Jones, allegedly approached the fire station with the children and informed the firefighters that she wanted to turn over the children as their father would no longer help take care of them. However, now the mother says that the allegations are “made up” and that she was just trying to “help” her children as they suffered from asthma.

Fox 23 reports that Texas recognizes “Baby Moses” laws which allow parents who are unable to care for their infants to surrender the children at a fire station, medical station, or hospital without fear of prosecution. However, the law only applies to children 60 days old or younger. Therefore, when Jasmine Jones attempted to surrender her children, 9 months old and 3 years old, to the department, they informed her they would have to call authorities as they were over 60 days old. When the mother was informed police would be called, Click2Houston reports that she attempted to take the children and leave. However, fearing for the children’s safety, the firefighters kept the children with them at the station as the mother left.

Firefighters noted that a man, allegedly the children’s father, John Lee Smith, was heard shouting expletives at the woman as she surrendered the children at the station. As police were being called to the fire station, Jones left along with the yelling man. Police eventually tracked down Jones who says the allegations were all “made up.” She says she was simply trying to help her children as they suffered from asthma.

“We were just trying to get them help with their asthma. They’re kids, they’re babies, and they had an asthma attack. That’s all we were trying to do, help our kids out. These allegations were made up.”

However, when reporters pressed her on why the firefighters would make up the story, she had no answers. Meanwhile, the children were taken into state custody. A custody hearing was held yesterday and neither parent showed up to plead their case. Therefore, the judge ruled that the children should remain in state custody as no family members were deemed suitable for a home.

Harris County Assistant Attorney Tiffany Reedy noted that during the hearing, domestic violence, drug use, and physical violence against the children were brought up to the courts.

“Drug allegations were made. There were allegations of domestic violence between she and father of the children as well as physical abuse of the children.”

Do you think the mother should be charged for abandoning her children despite claiming that she was just trying to help them? Do you think they will be better off in state custody?

[Image Credit: Click2Houston Video]