A West Virginia woman now faces serious criminal charges after authorities say she left her 5-year-old son — a child with autism — completely unattended beside a road with heavy vehicle traffic while she allegedly attempted to steal a car in plain sight of its owner.
Danielle Lee Murray, 37, of Reedsville, was arrested following the June 4 incident in the area of Alexandria Drive in Preston County. She is currently held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond and faces charges of child neglect, among others.
According to a criminal complaint, the vehicle owner contacted law enforcement after witnessing a woman — identified as Murray — enter their parked car and attempt to drive it away. The caller described the suspect as appearing “a bit off” and noted she was visibly unsteady on her feet, unable to stand upright.
West Virginia State Police troopers responded and located Murray approximately a mile from the scene, walking in the direction of a nearby gas station. When asked to identify herself, she denied being Murray — but troopers confirmed her identity on the spot.
What made the situation far more alarming, authorities said, was what Murray had left behind. During the time she attempted the theft and walked away from the scene, her young son was found alone outside an apartment complex with no adult supervision. A neighbor reported that the boy was “freaking out” as he desperately searched for his mother. The child, who has autism, was standing near a stretch of road that officers described as having heavy traffic flow.
A family member arrived and took custody of the boy. Authorities confirmed the child was not physically harmed.
Murray was taken into custody without further incident. The case remains under investigation by the West Virginia State Police.
