Children Home Alone: Real-Life Horror Stories

Kids in the U.S. can stay home without adult supervision at any age in 37 states. The remaining have an age limit for leaving kids home unsupervised, with Illinois allowing children as young as six years to stay home alone. In some situations, leaving a child without adult supervision may be due to necessity, particularly in situations with single parents. Experts say children under 12 should never be left home without adult supervision. However, leaving children of any age home alone without adult supervision is extremely risky. It takes seconds for disaster to occur, and when it does, life may never be the same again.

Knife Thrown at TV by Toddler Stabs Child in Back of The Head

In September 2019, a Port St. Lucie mother and daughter were arrested after five kids were left home alone and a freak knife accident left a 9-year-old with wounds to his head.

A 4-year-old girl threw a knife across the room, hitting a television set. The knife bounced off the TV and struck the 9-year-old boy in the back of his head.

An 8-year-old boy attempted to call an ambulance but dialed 991 instead of 911. He then ran to a neighbor’s house for help. The neighbor summoned the police.

The 9-year-old was transported to a local hospital and treated for head injuries. He was released the same night.

Julie Belliard, 30, and her mother, Marie Pierre, were charged with child neglect in the incident.  Julie is the mother of all five children. Police said the kids were dirty and had bug bites on their legs. All five children were placed in state custody.

Marie had agreed to babysit the five kids for her daughter while she worked. When Julie called later in the evening asking for a ride home, Marie left the kids home alone while she drove to her workplace. Julie knew Marie planned to leave the kids home alone.

11-Year-old Thrwats Home Invasion With Machete

In 2019, 11-year-old Braydon Smith of Mebane, North Carolina, was home alone when a strange man knocked on the front door of his family’s home. Smith knew he should not open the door to strangers, so he hid in his bedroom, hoping the man would leave.

Suddenly, Braydon heard the front door break, and seconds later, the man burst into his room where he had been hiding. He pointed the gun at him and told him to sit on the ground in the closet. Braydon complied.

The man went into the living room and began collecting valuables. He then went back into Braydon’s bedroom and then into the kitchen. That’s when Braydon picked up his machete and whooped the man in the back of the head.

That man, 19-year-old Jataveon Hall, kicked Braydon in the stomach, knocking him to the ground as he swung the machete at him a second time but missed. Braydon got back to his feet and continued swinging. Hall ran out of the house, leaving behind the loot he had collected.

Two others, a man and a woman, waited outside for Hall. All three suspects were arrested.

6-Year-Old Killed While Attempting to Save Sister From Burglar

Dominick Andujar, age 6, died when he attempted to defend his 12-year-old sister against Osvaldo Riveria, a man who broke into their house early one morning in 2012. Dominick woke up while Riveria raped his sister. He grabbed a knife and attempted to stab Riveria to save his sister. Sadly, Riveria took the knife from Dominick and used it to slice his throat. 

If you want to learn more about this heartbreaking case, click the link below to read the full story.