Murrieta Mom, 41, Charged With Child Endangerment After Daughter, 12, Is Found Naked, Eating Garbage

TEMECULA  (AP) — A Southern California teacher's aide has been charged with child endangerment after her naked 12-year-old daughter was found wandering the streets and eating garbage.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports 41-year-old Tracy Lynn Betts was charged with the misdemeanor Thursday.

The Murrieta resident is accused of leaving her naked daughter in a parked car to wait while she was at work.

Sheriff's officials say Betts apparently took her daughter's clothes to prevent her from leaving the vehicle before she was found eating food from trash cans on Feb. 2.

Neighbors told officials she was trying to cover herself with a car floor mat.

Betts had worked as a teacher's aide at Vail Elementary School and has been on paid leave since the incident.

The newspaper couldn't immediately reach Betts for comment.

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