Cops: Grandma left 1-year-old alone to go drink

PITTSBURGH - A 51-year-old Pennsylvania grandmother is accused of leaving her 1-year-old granddaughter home alone so that she could go drink with a male friend, reports CBS Pittsburgh.

Stacey Shannon, of Pittsburgh, had been babysitting the child since Wednesday, but when the child's mother could not reach Shannon on Thursday, she became worried about her own mother's whereabouts and called police just after 10 p.m., reports the station.

A police official says officers were able to get inside Shannon's apartment at around 1 a.m. when another relative brought them a key.

The 1-year-old was reportedly found in the apartment alone, sleeping on the couch.

About 15 minutes after authorities entered the apartment, Shannon returned home and told police she was sitting on a wall drinking with a friend, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

Shannon also reportedly told police she had given the child pizza and soda earlier in the day.

The station reports she told authorities that she returned to her apartment because she saw cars and flashing lights around her apartment building and thought, "they must be here for me."

She was right.

Children, Youth and Family services was notified and the baby girl was returned to its mother, according to the station.