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Charges: Mother Left 4-Year-Old Alone, House Caught Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Minneapolis mother of four faces one felony count of child neglect after she left her 4-year-old alone while she was at the casino. During her absence, her home caught fire and the child suffered burns, authorities said.

Minneapolis police said the fire happened on the morning of Jan. 3 on the 3400 block of Penn Avenue North. When fire crews and officers arrived at the house, they learned that a neighbor had heard a fire alarm and braved the fire to investigate. In the burning house, the neighbor found a 4-year-old child inside, alone.

The child was treated at a hospital for minor burns.

According to the police, Sgt. Patrick Myslajek, of the Child Abuse Unit, investigated the case and found that the mother, 44-year-old Yeng Moua, had left her four children home for the night on Jan. 2 while she went to the casino. The fire appears to have started the following morning, after the three older children had left for school.

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