Fayette County, WV – A Hawkeye woman was arrested Wednesday after deputies discovered a 7-year-old child had allegedly been left home alone overnight, prompting a child endangerment investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report during the afternoon hours of Thursday, January 29, 2026, that a young child had been left alone after 9 p.m. at a residence on 401 E. Burger St. in Hawkeye. While patrolling the area, a deputy reportedly observed a vehicle leaving the residence around 9:30 p.m.
Authorities said multiple attempts were made to contact someone inside the home, but no one responded. Deputies then contacted the child’s parents by phone. Investigators determined one parent was out of state, while the other had allegedly left the child alone to travel for work.
During the investigation, deputies found that Kari Lynn Youngblut, 44, of Hawkeye, had reportedly left the child alone on multiple occasions since the summer of 2025, sometimes for periods lasting eight to 10 hours, according to the sheriff’s office.
Youngblut was arrested and charged with 10 counts of Child Endangerment, all aggravated misdemeanors. She was transported to the Fayette County Jail, where she awaited initial court appearance.
Officials confirmed the child is safe at this time. The case remains under investigation, and authorities say additional charges may be filed.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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