Police Arrest Mother After Autistic Child Found Roaming Around McHenry Unsupervised

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner:

A mother was arrested after police say she left her non-verbal autistic son unsupervised for an extended period of time and he was found wandering around McHenry.

Caitlin M. Mangan, 29, of the 4200 block of West Ponca Street in McHenry, was charged with endangering the life of a child, a Class 3 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Mangan left her 7-year-old son unsupervised on the morning of August 29.

Mangan left the boy, who is non-verbal and has autism, unsupervised for an “extended period of time,” the complaint said.

During that time, the 7-year-old walked away from his home and roamed parts of the city alone.

Officers with the McHenry Police Department arrested Mangan the same morning after locating the child.

Court records show that Mangan was arrested for a similar offense last November.

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In that November incident, officers found Mangan “highly intoxicated and passed out on the couch” while leaving her 7-year-old son unsupervised.

There were multiple knives left out on the counter, according to a criminal complaint, which added that Mangan resisted arrest from officers.

Mangan was sentenced to one year of supervision, parenting class and $539 in court fees and fines in the November case, records show.

A judge lowered Mangan’s bond in her latest case to $5,000. She was released last week from the McHenry County Jail after posting $500 cash.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 17.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.