Crime

Woman Charged With Child Abuse After Leaving 6-Year-Old at K-Mart in Sunny Isle

ST. CROIX — A woman is facing felony child abuse and child neglect charges after she admitted to leaving her minor daughter in the Sunny Isle K-Mart. According to court documents, police were summoned to the K-Mart in Sunny Isle around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday by staff members after a 6-year old girl reported that she could not find her mother. Following several attempts to summon the child's mother – Rebecca Blaise – over the intercom, the K-Mart staff said they decided to call police.  While the child was turned over to the care of a social worker, responding officers found Blaise's address and found her at home. When asked if she knew where her daughter was, Blaise reportedly told officers that she had taken her shopping at the Sunny Isle K-Mart. After completing her shopping, she said that she told the girl that it was time to leave, but the child ran away.  Blaise said at that point, she left the store and caught the bus home. She admitted to leaving her daughter behind, saying tha...