By: Virgin Islands Free Press News Desk
ST. CROIX — A late-night excursion left two toddlers abandoned in the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion complex, culminating in the arrest of a local mother after a four-year-old child was found wandering alone outside in the early hours of Friday morning.
Midnight Discovery: Toddler Found Alone Near Trash Bin
On or about Friday, August 7, 2026, at approximately 1:42 a.m., Police officer Alexis Dujon was dispatched by the 911 Emergency Call Center to the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion, in the vicinity of the basketball court, to investigate a reported child neglect incident.
Upon arrival, the officer made contact with the concerned caller, who stated that between approximately 12:50 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., he observed a minor male child sitting alone on a curb near a trash bin in front of Building No. 8. Concerned about the child’s safety, he approached the minor and asked where he lived. The concerned citizen noted that the child pointed toward Building No. 20. The caller explained that he made contact with several individuals in the area while attempting to locate the child’s residence or parents; however, each person advised that they did not know the child or his parents.
Unlocked Door and an Unattended Infant
The concerned citizen further stated that he later traveled to the vicinity of Building No. 1, where he encountered two females who identified the child and his mother as Shylequaa Garray. The females attempted to contact Garray by telephone, and after an initial miss, Garray eventually returned the call.
The group proceeded toward Apartment No. 108, Building No. 8, where Garray resides. Upon their arrival, they observed that the apartment door was closed shut but unlocked. One of the assembled group, a female, entered the apartment to check for the children’s mother and discovered that Garray was not present.
A second female in the group, subsequently spoke with Garray by telephone. During that conversation, Garray advised that she was not at home but was on her way back. The concerned citizen, who made the call to police, personally spoke with Garray via telephone, during which time she advised that the children would remain with the woman who phoned her until her arrival. The concerned citizen then notified the 911 Emergency Call Center of the situation.
A short time later, the concerned citizen observed the two females return to Apartment No. 108, where they retrieved another minor child—a one-year-old female —who had been left inside the apartment sleeping by herself. The concerned citizen immediately notified 911 of this development as well.
Mother Admits Abandoning Kids to Drive to Point Udall
Shortly thereafter, contact was made with Garray, who arrived on scene in a white pickup truck bearing Virgin Islands registration CIB-319. Garray identified herself and was advised that the interaction was being audio and video recorded.
During an interview, Garray stated that she had left her apartment at approximately 11:00 p.m. to go for a drive with a male friend. Garray admitted that she left her two minor children—a four-year-old male and a one-year-old female—alone inside the apartment after locking the door behind her.
Garray stated that while she was away, she received a telephone call from her friend, informing her that her four-year-old son had been found outside within the community. Garray indicated that she was near the Point Udall area at the time she received the call and immediately headed home. During the interview, Garray also admitted that she had locked her children inside the apartment on prior occasions while leaving to go out.
Ms. Richmond confirmed she took custody of the four-year-old, learned from Ms. Garray that the baby was still inside, and safely removed the sleeping infant from the unlocked residence.
DHS Steps In; Mother Remanded on $50K Bail
Based upon the totality of the investigation, authorities determined that Garray had knowingly left her one-year-old and four-year-old children unattended inside her apartment during late-night hours for personal reasons. Additionally, the four-year-old child had managed to escape the apartment unsupervised and was found wandering alone outdoors, creating a substantial risk to his health and safety.
Social Worker E. Ferris from the Department of Human Services was briefed and responded to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station to coordinate emergency placement. Each minor child was released into the custody of DHS and subsequently placed in the care of their maternal aunt, Verna Richardson.
Garray was placed under arrest and charged with:
- Child Neglect (Title 14 V.I.C. §504 (a))
- Neglect of Parental Duty / Causing Delinquency of a Minor (Title 14 V.I.C. §481 (a))
After being read her Miranda Rights, Garray declined to provide further details. Bail was set at $50,000.00. Unable to post bail, she was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending her Advice of Rights hearing at the Kingshill Superior Court.