Mother Faces Felony Child Abuse Charges for Leaving Children Unattended Overnight, Reports BVPD

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BRISTOL, Va. — Authorities in Bristol, Virginia, have taken a mother into custody on charges of felony child abuse and neglect after she allegedly left three young children alone overnight.

The Bristol Virginia Police Department (BVPD) reported that the investigation into 20-year-old Kendel Fortner commenced on Wednesday. This was triggered when a neighbor discovered the unsupervised children and notified the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS).

According to the police statement, the investigation found that the children, aged five, two, and eight months, had been left without supervision from Tuesday evening until the following morning at a residence in Bristol, Virginia.

Initially, Fortner was arrested on November 19, 2025, and charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, further investigation led to additional charges, including three counts of felony child abuse and neglect, as detailed in the release.

The BVPD said the children were immediately taken into protective custody by the DSS and then released to the care of their respective fathers.

“Our primary concern in this case was, and remains, the safety and well-being of these young children,” stated Captain Steve Crawford of the Criminal Investigations Division in the release. “These felony charges reflect the seriousness of the situation, and we will continue to work closely with the Commonwealth’s Attorney and DSS to ensure justice is served.”

The release said Fortner was being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. The BVPD said the investigation remains active and commended the residence’s neighbors and DSS for their swift actions to ensure the safety of children.