Orland Park woman charged with neglect

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Updated: February 13, 2012 9:07AM

An Orland Park resident has been charged with endangering the life of a child for allegedly leaving her 9-year-old son home alone while she went to work.

Maria Martinez, 30, 9104 Lincoln Court, #203, was charged Dec. 16 after her son failed to show up at Liberty School, 8801 W. 151st St., according to police. They said school staff notified police after they called the home and the boy told them he was by himself.

A representative of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services told police the boy has been left alone before.

Police said Martinez’s live-in boyfriend told officers the boy was home because he was complaining of a stomach ache and was afraid to go to school because it was “crazy hair” day, where students are encouraged to wear different-colored wigs.

Kate McCann