CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
The city is investigating a dilapidated building in the South Side Marquette Park neighborhood where a two-year-old boy fell from a second story apartment window Tuesday.
Police arrested and charged the boy's mother who they say left her child home alone.
Vernisha Carter, 22, of the 6100 block of South Artesian Avenue was charged with one count of misdemeanor endangerment of a child and one count of misdemeanor reckless conduct, according to police.
FOX Chicago News spoke exclusively with Tommy Franklin, the mother's boyfriend, who says they left the boy home alone for a short time while they went to get some food. He was discovered lying on the sidewalk by a neighbor at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Franklin said despite this, Carter is a good person who made a bad mistake.
"Yeah, she's a good mom though, you know what I'm saying. We just made a decision to go to the store for five minutes to pick up some food for me, her and the child. We came back and we heard," Franklin said.
Franklin has been helping raise the child but is not the boy's father. He believes the boy fell out of the window after standing on a bottle of detergent.
The toddler suffered an abrasion to his head but was taken in "stable" condition to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, Gaines said. Franklin says he's wearing a neck brace but is alert and able to speak. The boy is now in the custody of his grandparents.
Franklin says things have been really tough for the couple and they've fallen on hard times.
"She's a loving mom. She loves her child with all her heart. I love him too just as well as he's my son. We just was tricked into living here, paying a guy that claims to be the landlord. Paying him monthly rent, no water. We had water but it was only cold water, we had to warm it up on the stove to wash up. It's just real critical," Franklin said.
A woman who frequents the neighborhood says she is familiar with Carter and also believes her to be a good mother to her son.
"She's a good mom, she's a good mom. She's young. She's a good momma. I'll give her that," the woman said.
The woman says Carter has lived in the building for awhile.
City inspectors have since shut down the building and no one is allowed to live there any longer. The Department of Buildings has responded to at least three complaints about the building this year, including a complaint lodged over 311 on May 31. The Department of Human Services is working with residents to find them temporary housing.
Carter is expected to appear in court July 11.
