Background: News footage of the Brigantine, N.J. neighborhood where Jena Davidson was babysitting (WCAU). Inset: Jena Davidson (Mom Trusted).
A babysitter in New Jersey suspected of being intoxicated was discovered inside a family’s residence, reportedly unconscious, while the child she was supposed to be looking after was found wandering outside unaccompanied.
The Brigantine Police Department issued a statement on Facebook revealing that they were summoned by a concerned citizen who observed a toddler roaming the neighborhood alone and in distress. The individual who made the call happened to be a neighbor who recognized the child and took him indoors to escape the cold weather. During the call with emergency services, the neighbor escorted the child back to his home, where they encountered 35-year-old Jena Davidson, the babysitter, in an unconscious state and reeking of alcohol.
At the time of the incident, both of the child’s parents were at their workplaces. According to information from WCAU, a local NBC affiliate in Philadelphia, the father of the child became aware of his son’s outdoor escapade through the Ring camera app. Acting swiftly, he contacted a neighbor who dialed 911, located the toddler, and brought him back to safety. It was during this time that the neighbor stumbled upon Davidson and informed the dispatcher of her condition, stating, “The babysitter is unconscious on the floor. I need an ambulance.”
The police said in their statement that investigators determined that Davidson allegedly consumed “a significant amount of the homeowner’s alcohol to the point that she became unconscious and unresponsive.” According to court records obtained by WCAU, investigators reported that Davidson smelled of alcohol when officers arrived. Court records also stated that a coffee mug containing alcohol was found on the counter and an “empty shot bottle” was in Davidson’s bag.
Davidson was taken to the hospital and given “basic life support.” The boy was unharmed, and his neighbors took care of him until parents quickly returned home.
Davidson had advertised her babysitting services on two different sites, Mom Trusted and Nanny Lane, the site where the boy’s parents found her. Nanny Lane said in a statement to the New York Post that they were aware of the case and said Davidson “signed up over a year ago, tried our site for three days, then left and never used it again.” While her profile is still live, she has been blocked from using the site. Nanny Lane also told the Post, “Every paid family is provided background checks as part of their membership fee, and we highly recommend that every family use them.”
While she was still being treated in the hospital, Davidson was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
