4-Year-Old Girl Was 'Crying And Praying' After Forgotten On Bus

MILWAUKEE, WI — A 44-year-old Milwaukee woman has been arrested and charged after authorities say she left a 4-year-old girl alone in the back of a school bus after completing her morning drop-offs.

Authorities have charged Lamonica Langston with one count of neglecting a child — specified harm did not occur.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 6, Langston was behind the wheel of a school bus, when she was supposed to drop the child off at the Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School.

The criminal complaint stated that the girl fell asleep on the bus, and Langston did not notice. Langston finished her rounds, failed to do a walk-through to make sure all the children were off the bus, and drove the school bus home.

Investigators say the girl remained in the empty bus until she woke up, and suddenly realized she was alone. It was 36 degrees outside at the time, police said.

According to the criminal complaint, the girl began to cry, and then started banging on the windows until a passer-by noticed her. The man struggled to open the bus doors to let her out, but was not able to force the doors open. He called 911, and firefighters were able to pry open the doors to let her out.

The girl told police that she was "crying and praying" inside the empty bus, police later said.

According to a FOX 6 report, Milwaukee Public Schools officials said Langston had been employed at Specialized Care Transport, and was no longer an employee there following the incident.

Court documents show that Langston is out on a $250 cash bond. She is expected back in court on Feb. 12 for a plea hearing. If convicted, Langston faces up to 18 months behind bars.