WHEATON, Ill., Jan. 21, 2006
Mom Jailed For Ditching Kids For Show
Woman Left Young Children At Home Alone To Attend Jerry Springer Taping
-
Jerry Springer, above, proved too tempting for an Ill. woman who left her three young children at home to attend a taping of his show. (CBS/AP)
-
In The Spotlight The Odd Truth Strange but factual tales from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com.
Shannon Cook, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this week to misdemeanor child endangerment. She also was placed on probation for a year.
"It was an appropriate sentence, given what she did," said DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Ruggiero.
The two girls and one boy, all under the age of 4, have been placed in foster homes by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Police said Cook left the children alone at a suburban home Oct. 19 while she and her boyfriend went to Chicago for the taping. About five hours later, the two oldest knocked on the door of a neighbor, who called police.
Cook was arrested when she returned home after midnight. According to a police report, she said: "I didn't think I'd be gone that long."
©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBSNews.com On Digg
Gen. Ray Odierno, head of multinational forces in Iraq, on progress there and plans for Afghanistan.
