A mother in Mississippi was arrested after bringing her toddler to a Walmart store dressed only in a diaper despite the chilly weather conditions on January 17. The incident took place in Byram, where the temperatures ranged from 10 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Accuweather.
The police responded to the incident around 10:30 a.m., with the temperature reportedly at approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit at that time. A viral video, reportedly recorded by a Walmart employee, showed the child initially wearing only a diaper inside a shopping cart. The employee claimed that the child was later given a black jacket.
Everyone don’t need kids man… pic.twitter.com/V6DNH1l1ZY
— 🍊Elgin Barrett Eugene Smith lll🍊 (@Southside_Gunn) January 22, 2024
The video depicted the mother, identified as Kambria Gabrielle Darby, continuing to shop for groceries and placing items in the cart near the child. When confronted by a man about the situation, Darby engaged in a heated exchange, eventually twerking towards the individuals recording her. Another onlooker warned her that the police would be called.
Upon leaving the store, Darby was met by police officers who subsequently arrested her for child neglect. The Walmart employee had started recording after witnessing Darby placing the semi-nude child in the cart. Another shopper at Walmart reportedly dressed the shivering child, and EMS crews checked on the minor before Child Protective Services intervened, eventually releasing the child to a relative.
Darby was taken into custody at the Hinds County Detention Center and charged with child neglect. She was later released on bond conditions.
After the incident went viral on social media, Darby responded to the accusations in a Facebook post. She defended her parenting skills by claiming to have photographic evidence of every meal she had cooked for her children. Despite facing criticism, she drew comparisons between her situation and the mistreatment of Jesus, expressing hope for a reunion with her children.
In her post, Darby also detailed the experiences she had provided for her children, including trips to Disney World and interactions with popular characters. However, she did not address the specific circumstances of taking her child to Walmart semi-dressed. The post concluded with Darby asserting that her children were not neglected, and she urged people to stop spreading defamation about her.
