Indiana Mother Abandons Baby With Craigslist Sitter

The Department of Child Services is investigating an Indiana mother who abandoned her 13-month-old son with a babysitter she found on Craigslist.

Cecilia Long, 28, told Indianapolis police that she had responded to a Craigslist ad posted by a woman identified as "Jen," requesting overnight care for her 13-month old son, Kameron.

"I was trying to help myself and my family, and I got burnt. I thought babysitting would be a nice, easy way to help someone else in need and help me," Long told WISH-TV.

Long had been caring for Kameron regularly since Thanksgiving before she decided her agreement with Jen didn't make a lot of sense.

Long said Jen had promised her $75 a day to care for Kameron, but the money never materialized. Jen gave Long only $10, she told Fox59, which she said she used to buy milk for the baby.

The situation came to a head when Long had to go out of town due to a family emergency. She texted Jen and asked her to come pick up her child, but Kameron's mother refused and responded that "it wasn't her problem," according to Indianapolis police records.

Robert Hatch, the police officer who responded to a call from Long on Dec. 6, tried to talk to Jen on the phone. But when Hatch identified himself, the police report said, Jen told him to "Quit f-ing calling my phone." "Loud music and partying" were also audible in the background during Hatch's brief conversation with Jen.

Police also looked for Kameron's mother at local nightclubs without results - she had told Long she worked as a dancer at a nearby venue, but employees there didn't know of any dancers named Jen.

Kameron is now in the custody of Child Protective Services, which is  investigating the case, Officer Anthony Weiner of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.

But Long told Fox59 that her contact with Jen hasn't ended:  Jen has sent Long aggressive messages since Child Protective Services took over the case.

"I want to know why the (expletive) you called CPS on me (expletive). I didn't (expletive) do (expletive) to you. I owe you money yes, but I didn't do (expletive) to you," Jen said in one voicemail message left on Long's phone.

Jen may be driving a maroon Jeep or SUV vehicle, according to the Indianapolis police report.

Ann Houseworth, director of communications at the Department of Child Services, said Kameron is in good health and in protective custody.  The investigation is still open; Houseworth noted that "the department makes every effort to locate the parents of a child once we've become involved."

"We're grateful for the actions of the babysitter," Houseworth said. "It does take everyone in the community to keep children safe."