PHOENIX — The mother of two young girls who were reported missing for several hours Saturday evening has been arrested, police said.
Detectives from the Phoenix Police Department arrested 40-year-old Ashleigh Williams on two counts of child abuse after she reported her 4-year-old and 3-year-old missing from their apartment near 16th and Missouri avenues.
Williams told police she had taken drugs and passed out while her two daughters wandered outside and were approached by a homeless woman, court records show.
After the woman failed to wake up the unconscious mother, she took the two young girls to a friend's apartment in another complex.
Williams called 911 to report the girls missing shortly after her ex-boyfriend alerted her to the missing children. Police said he was not home at the time and noticed the girls were gone through a baby monitoring camera system installed on his phone.
The girls were found safe Sunday afternoon at the YMCA near 17th and Missouri avenues.
Williams told police she has struggled with substance abuse issues and relapsed on fentanyl pills after her car broke down outside her ex-boyfriend's apartment.
Earlier on Saturday, Williams told police she helped a friend steal a pound of marijuana from a man. The friend cut Williams out of the crime's profits so she called another friend who came over and offered her some pills, court records show.
After taking the pills, Williams said she fell asleep in her ex-boyfriend's apartment as her daughters were playing with toys.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12 News for more information.
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