Police: Mom Left Children Alone At Motel While Making DoorDash Deliveries

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A 23-year-old Smithfield mother has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse after police allege she left her two young children alone in a motel room while she worked as a DoorDash driver in Wake County.

Michae Edelle Branham is accused of leaving her children, ages 2 and 4, inside a room at the Super 8 motel on Outlet Center Drive on Sept. 21 while she went to work.

Police said a member of the motel cleaning staff entered the room and found the two children without clothing. The employee dressed the children and took them to the front desk, where authorities were contacted.

When Smithfield Police arrived, officers allege front desk clerk Shawna Marie Weatherly, 43, of Raleigh, initially refused to allow them to see the children.

Officers were eventually able to check on the children and began an investigation that led to Branham’s arrest.

Branham was charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and released on a $1,500 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 30.

Weatherly was issued a citation for resist, delay or obstruct a public officer and released at the scene. She is also scheduled to appear in court Nov. 30.

Police said the children were not injured.