A woman being sought because she allegedly left her 12- and 3-year-old children home alone for months has been apprehended in Alabama and is awaiting extradition to Texas.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Raven Yates, 31, regularly posted on social media after she left the children at their Roman Forest home last September. The children were found living in deplorable conditions in December after family members told the 12-year-old girl’s father that Yates had been seen in Mobile, Alabama.
The father, who had been sending food to the children because his daughter said their mother was working, immediately flew to Texas and found them living alone. Yates had allegedly told the girl that if she told her father what was happening, he would take her away and leave her toddler brother completely alone.
Roman Forest police investigated and and warrant for Yates’ arrest was issued on December 8 on two counts of abandoning children without intent to return.
Police said that Yates continued to make social media posts — about the situation — even as investigators were on the hunt for her. Finally, on Wednesday, the US Marshals fugitive task force followed a tip to a Mobile apartment complex and found Yates staying with an older man.
Roman Forest Police Chief Stephen Carlisle said Yates was all smiles when she was arrested.
“She was photographed in handcuffs with a full smile on her face and seemingly unbothered by the charges against her for allegedly putting her own children in danger,” he told KTRK. “I don’t know if she was playing a part or whatever it is, but she, I think, was playing for the camera. She wanted to have a smile. She wanted to look good. The arresting officer reportedly said she asked about putting lipstick on before the photo was taken.”
Police said that the 12-year-old is now with her father, and her younger brother, who has a different father, is with other relatives.
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[Featured image: Raven Yates/police handout]
