12-Year-Old Girl Found Wandering Alone at Dunkin’ Weighed Just 40 Pounds as Parents Allegedly Failed to Call 911

A 12-year-old girl was found wandering alone for hours in Charleston, West Virginia, before seeking help at a Dunkin’ restaurant. When police arrived, they reportedly discovered that the child weighed just 40 pounds and appeared so weak that officers had to support her to photograph her condition.

Her parents, Nuwna Overton and Clarence Spotsville, both 33, have been charged with child neglect creating a risk of injury. Investigators allege that the girl had been missing for approximately six hours, yet there was no evidence that either parent had contacted emergency services to report her disappearance.

The case has raised serious concerns about the child’s welfare and the circumstances in which she was living. Authorities have also indicated that other children were under the couple’s care.

Girl Found Alone After Wandering Through Neighborhood

The incident occurred on October 12, when the girl was found at a Dunkin’ restaurant on Oakwood Road in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia.

According to the criminal complaint described by Law&Crime and local broadcaster WCHS, the child had left a home in the neighborhood and wandered around for several hours before reaching the restaurant.

The Dunkin’ was approximately half a mile from the apartment complex where she lived with her parents.

The girl reportedly went to the restaurant while trying to find her parents. Her presence there eventually brought the situation to the attention of authorities, who responded and began investigating her circumstances.

What initially appeared to be a case involving a child separated from her family soon became a much more serious welfare investigation.

Officers reportedly observed that the girl was extremely thin, prompting concerns about her physical condition and whether she had been receiving adequate care.

Police Reportedly Saw Bones in Her Hands and Feet

According to the criminal complaint, the girl weighed approximately 40 pounds when she was found.

Police said her condition was so concerning that the bones in her hands and feet were visibly pronounced. Investigators later returned to document her condition, but the child was reportedly so weak that she had to be held upright while officers took photographs.

The observations prompted further questions about the child’s health and the circumstances that led to her being found alone.

First responders took the girl to a hospital for medical treatment. Authorities have not publicly released a detailed medical assessment or explained how long she may have been experiencing the condition described by officers.

Her reported weight and physical weakness became central details in the investigation into the allegations against her parents.

Officials have not publicly established every factor that may have contributed to her condition, and the criminal charges remain allegations that must be addressed through the court process.

Parents Allegedly Never Called 911

After locating the girl, investigators determined where she lived and went to the family’s apartment at the Oakwood Terrace complex.

According to the criminal complaint reviewed by local NBC affiliate WSAZ, authorities found no evidence that either Overton or Spotsville had called 911 to report their daughter missing during the hours she was away from home.

That alleged lack of action became a key part of the child-neglect investigation.

Police arrested both parents and charged them with child neglect creating a risk of injury. The charge focuses on the alleged failure to provide the level of care and supervision required to protect a child from harm.

Authorities have not publicly provided a complete account of what each parent knew about the girl’s whereabouts during those six hours or explained why no missing-child report was made.

Those questions may become important as the case proceeds through the legal system.

Investigation Raises Questions About Other Children

The investigation has also drawn attention to the other children reportedly under the couple’s care.

WCHS reported that documents from Kanawha County Schools showed at least five children under Overton’s guardianship had been granted Hope Scholarships for the 2026–2027 school year. The records did not identify the private school or institution the children would attend.

The scholarship documents do not, by themselves, establish that the other children were neglected or harmed. However, the information has raised questions about whether authorities will examine the wider family circumstances as part of their investigation.

Police have not publicly disclosed the full status of the other children or announced additional charges related to them.

The Charleston Police Department reportedly declined to comment in detail while the investigation remained ongoing.

Parents Released After Posting Bond

Overton and Spotsville were both arrested and subsequently released after each posted a $1,000 bond, according to Law&Crime and local news reports.

They were charged with child neglect creating a risk of injury. The defendants waived their preliminary hearing, which had been scheduled for October 21.

A waiver of a preliminary hearing does not establish guilt. The case must continue through the appropriate legal proceedings, and the allegations will need to be evaluated in court.

Local reporters attempted to contact the couple for their response, but they did not answer the door when WCHS visited their home. Law&Crime also reported that it had reached out to Charleston police for further information.

As of the latest reports, authorities had not publicly clarified the girl’s longer-term living arrangements or provided a detailed update on her recovery.

A Child’s Welfare Remains at the Center of the Case

The circumstances described by investigators have placed the girl’s safety and well-being at the center of the case.

She was reportedly found alone after hours away from home, and officers described a level of physical weakness that required medical attention. The allegation that neither parent called 911 during her disappearance has added another major concern to the investigation.

At the same time, many details remain unknown, including the full medical explanation for the child’s condition and what her parents knew while she was missing.

The criminal case against Overton and Spotsville remains unresolved. Both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Sources: Law&Crime