From Law & Crime · · 2m
Mother backs over 1-year-old at prayer service, leaves shoeless child on road
North Dakota mother faces federal charges after allegedly running over child during prayer service and abandoning another on road.
In brief
North Dakota mother faces federal charges after allegedly running over child during prayer service and abandoning another on road. Cassandra Santos, 37, faces federal charges for allegedly running over a 1-year-old during a prayer service at Crow Hill Recreation Center and later leaving her oldest child shoeless on a…
North Dakota mother faces federal charges
Cassandra Santos, 37, was charged on Oct. 9 with one count of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury and three counts of child neglect in Indian Country.
First incident at Crow Hill Recreation Center
An FBI agent wrote that Santos' 1-year-old child was 'run over' by her during a prayer service at the Crow Hill Recreation Center on the Spirit Lake Reservation on July 6.
Inconsistent alcohol stories
Santos provided 'inconsistent and contradicting' stories about whether she was drinking alcohol that day, with her grandmother and aunt later saying they smelled alcohol on her.
Baby hospitalized with injuries
The 1-year-old was taken to a hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, where medical staff said the baby had a fractured right femur, a crush injury and abrasions to the left leg and foot.
Child left shoeless on road
About a month later, on Aug. 7, a patrol officer found Santos' oldest child walking on the side of a road wearing a T-shirt and shorts but no shoes.
Santos under influence
When police found Santos, she was with a group of people who 'all appeared to be under the influence' and she told police all her children were 'safe at different houses'.
Children's school reports
FBI agents attempted to talk to Santos' two older children at their school, but school staff said the children had been called out sick.
Santos arrested with high BAC
Santos was arrested after police found her passed out on the floor of her Chevy Tahoe with a 0.196 blood alcohol concentration.
Alcohol found in vehicle
Police found empty containers of alcohol in the Tahoe, with children saying their mother 'sometimes … drank every day'.
Santos in custody
Santos is in custody at the Grand Forks County Jail with her next court date not publicly available.
The headline
Cassandra Santos, 37, faces federal charges for allegedly running over a 1-year-old during a prayer service at Crow Hill Recreation Center and later leaving her oldest child shoeless on a road in North Dakota.
