Brother, sister arrested after 4 children found in motel without food

MONROE, N.C. — A Monroe brother and sister are in jail on charges they left four young children alone at a motel for more than a day.

Police arrested 19-year-old Ebony Gwyn and her 18 year old brother, Kelean, early Thursday morning when they returned to their room at the Relax Inn off Highway 74.

Authorities said a motel guest called them several hours before, after finding the children unattended and crying in one of the rooms late Wednesday evening.

"They haven't eaten, they haven't had a bath since nine o'clock last night," the caller told the 911 operator.

Officers said they found the children, ranging in ages from 5 months to 4 years, scared, hungry and in soiled diapers.

"They were scared, they didn't know what was going on. Officers took them, got them some food. There was formula in the room, they were able to bottle feed the one," said city spokesman Pete Hovanec.

Police said three of the four children were Ebony Gwyn's and were taken into protective custody by DSS.

Investigators said Gwyn was supposed to be babysitting the fourth, who was a friend's child, and that child was returned to the care of its parents.

"We are doing everything we can to make sure justice is served for these children," Hovanec said.

Police said they don't know what the Gwyns were doing while they left the children unattended, but said Kelean Gwyn also had outstanding warrants for breaking and entering charges.

Both brother and sister remain in the Union County Jail.

WSOC