Webster County mother arrested after heroin found in toddler's car seat

CAMDEN ON GAULEY, W.Va (WDTV) – A Webster County woman was arrested and charged with child neglect after police found four children alone in a car and heroin in the car seat.

Cynidel Hardin, 27, of Cowen, is accused by West Virginia State Police of leaving her four children – ages 1, 2, 3 and 4 – alone in the car while she obtained or used drugs.

Hardin's mother called police to check on the children because Hardin had spent most of the day at a known drug house and had her children with her, court documents say.

When police arrived at Hardin's home, they found her vehicle outside with the ignition on and all four children inside. Two of the children were crying because they didn't know where their mother was, court documents say.

One of the children was carrying an open pocket knife that he had taken from the car. Also in one of the child seats was a bag containing drug paraphernalia and a small piece of aluminum foil containing a cream-colored substance believed to be heroin, police said.

Police said Hardin was probably driving under the influence of heroin, including with the children in the car.

Hardin is charged with four counts of child neglect resulting in endangerment and is currently being held at Central Regional Jain with bail set at $40,000.

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