Inset: Kaneesha Williams (Shreveport Police Dept.). Background: The location where Williams’ 3-year-old was reportedly discovered alone and unclothed during a rainstorm (Google Maps).
A Louisiana mother faces arrest after her 3-year-old daughter was found by herself, “running naked in the street during a rainstorm,” before being noticed by a bus driver who took the child on board and contacted the police. Authorities reported that Kaneesha Williams was detained on Tuesday and faces several charges of criminal neglect of family.
As per a press release from the Shreveport Police Department, officers received a call around 5:30 p.m. on May 6, 2025, concerning a “troubling incident” involving a young child discovered unclothed and unaccompanied near Sussex Avenue and Corbett Street, located roughly 300 miles northwest of Baton Rouge. Authorities stated that a school bus driver made the initial 911 call after finding the child and bringing them onto his bus until the arrival of emergency responders.
Following a preliminary investigation, police said the child indicated that she lived in a home located in the 5300 block of Sussex Avenue, more than a quarter-mile from where she was discovered. When they reached the home, police said the front door lacked a functioning doorknob, so they announced their presence.
Police then met the little girl’s mother, who identified herself as Williams.
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“Officers conducted a welfare check inside the home and were met with deplorable living conditions,” the release states. “The residence had no furniture and was littered with trash. The kitchen appeared to have been uncleaned for an extended period, with dirty dishes piled throughout and no refrigerator or food in sight. Further investigation revealed that multiple children had been living in the home.”
During the welfare check, police said they found three additional children inside the home. The living conditions in the rest of the home were no better than the kitchen, according to authorities.
“A single mattress was found on the floor surrounded by clothing,” the release says. “The bathroom was in an unsanitary state, with toilets and bathtubs filled with feces and urine. Officers determined the plumbing was non-functional.”
Officer Chris Bordelon told Shreveport CBS affiliate KSLA that the feces and urine were “back-flowing into the house from the bathroom because it did not have running water.”
Police contacted the Department of Children and Family Services, along with Shreveport Police juvenile detectives, to assist at the scene.
“The officers were very distraught over the conditions in which the children were having to live. And ultimately, it’s what led to the response of bringing DCFS on board,” Bordelon added.
When the investigation concluded, Williams was placed under arrest and charged with a total of four counts of criminal neglect of family, one for each of the children in her care.
“This case was deeply troubling for all involved, and the Shreveport Police Department remains committed to protecting the welfare of the most vulnerable members of our community — our children,” the department said in a statement. “We urge anyone aware of similar situations to contact authorities immediately.”
