Tonimarie A. Barrett, New Rochelle mom abandons 13 year old daughter at closed gas station after fight.
What could’ve gone wrong…? A Westchester County mom is accused of abandoning her teen daughter at a Pennsylvania gas station after the mother and teen getting into an altercation.
The incident happened sometime after midnight on Sunday at a Turkey Hill convenience store in Tannersville in Pocono Township.
According to local police, Toni Marie Barrett, 42, was driving with her 13-year-old daughter from a residence in Long Pond, Pa. back to their home in New Rochelle when they pulled over to check their GPS directions.
Mom and teen get out of car after argument only for mom to drive off without girl
The two apparently got into a fight and exited the vehicle before Barrett allegedly threatened to stab her daughter. She then got back into the car and drove off, leaving the girl at the gas station, which was closed at the time, police said.
‘Barrett then proceeded to leave the juvenile at the closed business and drove to a gas station in Effort, where she remained until police contacted her’ shortly after 5 a.m., according to a news release from Monroe County.
During police questioning, Barrett allegedly admitted she did not report the girl missing or make an effort to find her. Police said the girl was found safe, but did not release any other information about the incident.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Pocono Record, at the time of the quarrel, the mother demanded her teen daughter hand over her iPad. The teen refused because she believed her mother would destroy the device. After being refused the iPad, Barrett allegedly threatened to stab her daughter if the teen did not give her the device, which she did.
Barrett’s daughter also reportedly mentioned that she asked Barrett if she could use her cellphone to get directions, but Barrett refused.
The teen then got out of the car and Barrett allegedly drove away. She eventually walked to a Turkey Hill location after staying at the closed gas station for a few hours, as the girl anxiously patiently waited for the mother to return according to the complaint.
Barrett was arrested on just on 7 a.m Sunday and charged with third-degree felony endangering the welfare of a child, as well as recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats, which are misdemeanors.
The parent was placed into the Monroe County Correctional Facility to await arraignment. The third-degree felony charge is punishable by up to seven years in prison and as much as $10,000 in fines.
