El Paso Mother Arrested After Toddler Found Wandering Alone

EL PASO, Texas — A mother has been arrested after her two-year-old child was found walking alone along a sidewalk Sunday evening, according to deputies.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on April 12, 2026, in the 500 block of Kearney Way, where deputies responded to a report of a young child found unattended.

The reporting party told deputies she saw the toddler walking alone before the child was retrieved by his mother, identified as 29-year-old Andrea Itzel Martinez.

Deputies later made contact with Martinez at her residence, where she was caring for the two-year-old and an 11-month-old child. Martinez told authorities the toddler had opened the front door and had been outside for about 10 minutes before she realized he was missing.

During the investigation, deputies said they detected the odor of alcohol coming from Martinez. She admitted to consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana while caring for the children.

Martinez was taken into custody and charged with abandoning or endangering a child. She was transported to the El Paso County Detention Facility, where she was booked on a $2,500 bond.