A Texas mother, identified as Raven Yates, 31, is accused of abandoning her children from September 2022 – November 2022 before her children’s father reported her to the police. Soon after, Yates went on the run, but not without sharing posts about the allegations on social media.
Police arrested Yates in Alabama on March 8 and she appears to be smiling in the arrest photo shared by Roman Forest Police Department.
BREAKING: Authorities have captured Raven Yates, the Roman Forest woman who allegedly left her two young children at home alone for months. She was apprehended in Mobile and awaiting extradition back to Montgomery County. @FOX26Houston pic.twitter.com/XnS0VUqYnT
— Sherman Desselle Fox 26 (@ShermanDesselle) March 9, 2023
Reportedly, the mother even asked to put lipstick on before she was cuffed, Chief Carlisle told KTRK.
“She was photographed in handcuffs with a full smile on her face and seemingly unbothered by the charges against her for allegedly putting her own children in danger,” Carlisle said. “I don’t know if she was playing a part or whatever it is, but she, I think, was playing for the camera. She wanted to have a smile. She wanted to look good. The arresting officer reportedly said she asked about putting lipstick on before the photo was taken.”
Yates is now facing two counts of “Abandon Endanger Child Without Intent To Return.”
Father Alleges Raven Yates Left Kids Home Alone For Two Months
According to PEOPLE, Raven Yates is accused of abandoning her 12-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son on September 28, 2022. The father of the 12-year-old informed authorities on November 14 that the children had been left alone after his daughter repeatedly kept asking him to “send food regularly.”
The Roman Forest Police Department explained further in a press release.
“The father had been informed that his child’s mother had been seen in Mobile, Alabama, without her children and realized they were home alone because he had been asked by his daughter to send food regularly.”
The 12-year-old’s father, reportedly, flew in from California to further check on the children.
A warrant was issued for the children’s mother, 31-year-old Roman Forest Resident Raven Yates, on Friday, who is on the run after the kids’ concerned father called cops on November 14 to report he had not seen them since September 28. pic.twitter.com/cr8TO5Ik8O
— HJ (Hank) Ellison (@hjtherealj) February 14, 2023
31-Year-Old Mother Responded To Police Social Media Posts Looking For Her
Police began to search for the 31-year-old mother, but kept information about their search private, Roman Forest Chief of Police Stephen Carlisle told PEOPLE.
However, when authorities were unable to locate Yates, they shared the news about the investigation on social media. According to Carlisle, the case caught the attention of many, including Yates herself.
The Roman Forest Police Department shared that Yates was “actively making social media posts about the situation.” Carlisle explained the statement further, referring to Yates as a “person that likes the attention.”
“She saw it, just like we figured she would, and then she started posting actively on social media because she’s that type of person that likes the attention.”
During the period away from her children, Yates posted numerous videos and photos to her Instagram account. One included a video of Yates poking fun at her name being in the news. Another showed her enjoying other extravagancies while her children were allegedly left on their own.
In one post, however, Yates seemed to deny the allegations against her, asserting that she was minding her own business and knew “the truth.”
Police Allege Social Media Posts By Yates Were Direct Responses To Their Investigation
According to Chief of Police Carlisle, some of Yate’s posts on social media were made in direct response to authorities’ investigation.
“On TV she saw me say that the cupboards were empty when we went in [the home where the children were found], so she started reacting to that by posting pictures of cupboards with food in them, which, she did leave plenty of food when she left. But being gone that long, it’s too long, the food supply is going to go.”
The posts were shared in February, and also included one where Yates was seen with her children. Carlisle, however, explained that these posts were old and the children were staying with family at that time.
“She was not with them. Those were older pictures. We know where the kids were. The kids were with family members.”
Furthermore, Carlisle explained that Yates never denied abandoning her children.
“But she never did deny that she left the kids alone, but she started posting pictures of her with the kids and, honestly, I think she was enjoying the attention.”
Raven Yates’ Arrest & Extradition
According to a press release from the Roman Forest Police Department, the Texas mother was arrested on March 8 in an apartment complex in Mobile, Alabama.
It appeared that she had been staying there with a male friend, police disclosed.
According to the press release, Yates has been charged with 2 counts of “Abandon Endanger Child Without Intent to Return.” It’s unclear if Yates has retained an attorney to comment on her behalf or entered a plea.
Furthermore, the 31-year-old is now awaiting extradition back to Montgomery County, Texas. However, it is, reportedly unclear how long that process may take.
