TALTY, Texas — Authorities in Texas believe two elementary-school-aged children fended for themselves for nearly one week after their 71-year-old mother died.
Teachers at Forney Independent School District took notice when two students, ages 5 and 7, missed school for an entire week and attempted to reach their mother. When their efforts were unsuccessful, school officials contacted police to conduct a welfare check, WFAA, reported citing InForney.com.
Upon arrival, the officers discovered the boys' mother had died, and the children had been taking care of each other, WFAA reported.
The boys told officers that their mother had collapsed but they did not have the passcode for her phone and were unable to call 911. Police believe the woman, who has not been publicly identified, died of natural causes and an autopsy is pending, KDFW reported.
According to police, the boys, who were adopted, were able to feed and care for themselves for five days and are now being cared for by their mother’s adult biological children, the TV station reported.
“Our hearts break with the family, and we are keeping them close in our thoughts and prayers,” Forney ISD said in a written statement released Sunday.