Texas Mom Allegedly Tied Toddler in Filthy Room

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas - A Pflugerville mother of four has been charged with endangering a child after she allegedly left her toddler alone and tied to a playpen in a filthy room.

Veronica Cannon, 40, left the bound 2-year-old on Aug. 1 at her apartment in 19600 block of N. Heatherwilde Boulevard, police said.

Officers who arrived at the home on child welfare call said Cannon's 10-year-old son answered the door. They said his 13-year-old and 4-year-old brothers were also inside.

According to police, the 2-year-old girl was found in a room that had a strong odor of feces and urine. She was asleep in the playpen and secured to it by a pink satin rope-like material wrapped around her and attached to the frame, they said.

The child had marks on her left ankle that indicated she had previously been bound by something that had cut into her skin, officers said.

The older boys told investigators that Cannon told them to tie the girl and that the mother had been away from the apartment since the previous night.

Cannon later told detectives that she had been tying the girl, including binding her by the ankle, since December 2009 in order to control the child.

Child Protective Services took Cannon's children into custody.