Kathy Serna, at left, Krystie Henry, at right

Photos by GCDC

By Roger Lanse

Silver City police officers responded to 422 Gordon Street on Monday, May 4, at approximately 10:15 a.m., in reference to a child that had been outside all night. When officers arrived they found a four-year-old sleeping on a front porch swing. When asked if she had been outside all night, according to a police statement, the girl answered, "Yeah." The little girl also stated that her mom, later determined to be Kristie Henry, 28, was not at home. Officers also asked the child if she had had anything to eat, to which she answered "No," and stated that she would like something to eat. Officers learned that she had not eaten since Saturday. An officer then left and returned with a Happy Meal for her.

A witness stated to the officers that he observed two children "pounding" on the door, trying to get in, as late as 9:30 p.m. the night before.

A grandmother, Kathy Serna, 50, came out of the residence holding another small girl, two years of age. Serna told officers, according to the police statement, that she thought Henry had taken the four-year-old to work with her.

An officer performed a welfare check on the residence and advised that there was no working electricity and that "the residence had a bad odor of rotten food" from the spoiled food inside the refrigerator and freezer. Officers also found a sink with dirty dishes piled up and the rooms appeared messy with dirty laundry thrown everywhere.

Officers notified the Children, Youth and Families Department and the children, including another one-year-old, were placed into protective custody, the statement said. Later, CYFD informed the officers that one of the children had a twin brother who had a history of burnt cigarette marks on his skin, and when Henry and Serna were asked where that child was, according to the statement, the two "looked at each other with a blank look."

At SCPD, Henry then stated that the twin brother was with her friend, David Jones, at the residence. The twin brother was ultimately found at Penny Park in the company of Jones. When asked if he knew about the condition of the residence, Jones answered, according to the statement, "I guess I sorta know, yeah." This child was also placed into protective custody at SCPD, and CYFD personnel came and took custody of the four children.

Henry and Serna have each been charged with four counts of abuse or abandonment of a child, third degree felonies, and one count of obstructing the investigation of child abuse/neglect, a fourth degree felony. Both were booked into the Grant County Detention Center under $41,000 bonds. Jones was charged with obstruction of reporting of child abuse or neglect, a misdemeanor.