DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. — A Delaware County woman has been arrested after police say her 6-year-old daughter was found walking alone along a state highway Tuesday morning.
According to court documents, Amanda Peckinpaugh has been preliminarily charged with Neglect of a Dependent, which is a Level 6 Felony. On March 25, deputies were dispatched shortly after 9:30 a.m. to SR 32 East after receiving reports that a girl was seen walking unattended near the roadway.
By the time authorities arrived, Peckinpaugh was there with the girl. She was later identified as the girl’s mother, according to court documents.
During a conversation with law enforcement, Peckinpaugh said the girl was non-verbal and autistic. Peckinpaugh added that the girl must have snuck out of their home while she was sleeping, court documents said.
The officer noted that there was a “very strong and distinct” alcohol odor emanating from Peckinpaugh’s breath, court documents said. Peckinpaugh was described as having “bloodshot eyes” while she spoke with responding officers.
Peckinpaugh submitted to a Breath Alcohol Test on the scene and had a blood alcohol level of 0.11%, court documents said.
Peckinpaugh told police that the time last time she had consumed an alcoholic beverage was 2 a.m. earlier that morning. She then received a ride from a neighbor back to her residence. When Peckinpaugh woke up, she reportedly learned that her daughter was missing and ran down the road to search for her, court documents revealed.
Peckinpaugh was arrested and transported to the Delaware County Jail while the child was brought into custody by the Department of Child Services.
