Parole Officer Finds 5-Year-Old Boy Home Alone
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (CBS) -- A parole officer who went to a McHenry County home for a routine check this week found a 5-year-old boy home alone with a burning religious candle.
The parole officer called McHenry County Sheriff's police, who responded to the home as 2611 Highwood Rd. in unincorporated McHenry to find the boy, who said was alone in the home, according to a release from the sheriff's office. The burning candle was found in the room.
The boy said his grandfather and father had left him alone about 9:15 a.m. and left the candle burning near him.
When the boy's father and grandfather returned about 90 minutes later, they were arrested and charged with endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor, the release said.
Arrested were Alex A. Martinez, 69, the boy's legal guardian and grandfather; and Nathan L. Green, 25, the boy's father, both of the Highwood Road address, the release said. Both were being held in the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility as of Wednesday night.
The state Department of Children and Family Services was notified and took custody of the boy, who was not injured.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
