Kids Ages 2 and 5 Found Home Alone In Joliet, Police Make 2 Arrests: Cops

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department said a pair of adults, ages 20 and 48, have been arrested and charged with crimes after they left a 2-year-old boy and his 5-year-old brother to fend for themselves, home alone, inside a house on Morgan Street.

Joliet police identified the adults as 20-year-old Latrell Johnson and 48-year-old Shanelle Gee. Each person was charged with two counts of endangering the life or health of a child.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said the crimes happened back on April 29.

According to English, at 3:22 p.m., officers responded to a house in the 1200 block of Morgan Street following a report of two young children believed to be home alone. The officers discovered two little boys, ages 5 and 2. Officers confirmed that the children were alone and placed them into protective custody. One of the children was found wearing only a soiled diaper, English said.

The Joliet Fire Department responded to assist with the care of the children.

According to English, officers were able to contact the mother of the children, and it was learned that she was at work and the children were believed to be in the care of her mother, Gee, and her brother, Johnson.

The father of the 5-year-old child responded to the residence.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was contacted and responded to the Joliet Police Department. At that time, care of the 5-year-old child was given to his father. DCFS took custody of the 2-year-old child.

This week, on Wednesday, Johnson and Gee were arrested.

"Following an investigation of this case, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Johnson and Gee for the above listed charges," English said. "Johnson were both placed into custody on May 21, 2025."

Because endangering the life or health of a child is not a detainable crime under the Illinois SAFE-T-Act, Gee and Johnson were given a notice to appear at the Will County Courthouse.