New Zealand police found a two-year-old girl locked in a suitcase on a bus trip. Today, a 27-year-old woman is staring down felony charges and prison time due to this shocking episode. The situation, which happened on Sunday, has sparked outrage at the possible endangerment and neglect of children.
The woman, who had arrived by bus, was approached by the driver when he saw that there was something odd about her baggage. When the suspicious driver opened the trunk to investigate, authorities discovered the young girl stowed away inside the suitcase. Local authorities were eager to jump in right from the past initial finding. They ended up charging the woman for aggravated ill treatment and neglect of a child.
After the attack, rescue workers rushed the 2-year-old little girl to a local hospital for an evaluation and treatment of her injuries. Luckily, she seems to have escaped any life-changing injuries, but the incident has been called totally unacceptable.
New Zealand’s Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, has been informed regarding the episode. They are still looking into the conditions under which the case arose. We do not know how long the child was left in the suitcase. Equally unfortunate is the fact that we will never know what motivated the woman to take such a perilous risk.
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison addressed reporters about the shocking state of affairs.
“When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl,” – DI Simon Harrison
Harrison said she was just thankful that it wasn’t worse, adding that it could have just as easily led to tragedy.
“What could have been a far worse outcome,” – DI Simon Harrison
The woman will soon be facing additional charges, as state authorities continue to investigate her actions in greater depth. This case has prompted a reevaluation of important child welfare legal theories. It brings attention to the growing responsibility of the parents or guardians of minors to protect them.