KENNER, La., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A Louisiana woman is accused of leaving her foster children outside on Christmas Eve day while she played blackjack at a casino, police said.
Katrular Buchanon, 36, of Tickfaw, La., was charged with child desertion, police in Kenner, La., said.
A passerby Saturday morning observed Buchanon dropping two boys, ages 4 and 7, off at a playground next to Lake Pontchartrain and then leaving a 9-year-old boy in the backseat of her car while she went inside the nearby Treasure Chest casino, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Thursday.
The bystander reported the observation to patrol officer Michael Lacrouts, who found Buchanon at a blackjack table inside the casino. She had been gone from the children for more than 40 minutes. Police said the children had no coats, despite the 53 degree temperature outside.
Buchanon was arrested and the three children were placed with the state Office of Child Services, the newspaper said.
