Department of Children and Family Services

Police Find Mother of Toddlers Abandoned on Street

The two boys were found wandering alone near Atlantic Avenue and 60th Street Thursday in Long Beach

Police on Friday located the mother of two toddlers who were found abandoned at a Long Beach intersection one day earlier after relatives helped identify the woman, officials said.

A 1-year-old boy named Kenneth and a 2-year-old boy named Sir Kingston were found unattended at Atlantic Avenue and 60th Street about 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Passer-by Amber Revels told NBC4 she discovered the toddlers wandering the streets and quickly alerted police.

On Friday morning, Long Beach police identified the toddlers' mother after speaking with relatives. The family members recognized the mother after hearing news reports about the missing boys.

The mother was identified as 23-year-old Shenae Irene Dixon (pictured, right). She was located "in good health" Friday afternoon and will be interviewed by detectives, police said.

Details about how the children ended up alone on a street were not immediately clear.

A woman identified as Mary Carter said she previously babysat the pair and believes they may have escaped from their home.

"The 2-year-old opened the door and was able to walk out, so I'm assuming that's probably what happened," Carter said.

The 1-year-old was wearing just a T-shirt and diaper while the other was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sandals.

Both boys appear to be in good health, police said. Investigators questioned witnesses in the immediate area, but no one reported seeing anyone with the children or dropping them off.

"Typically (with) children of this age anyway we would have received a call from a frantic parent saying I've lost my 1- and 2-year-old. So far we've gotten nothing," said Sgt. Robert Woods of Long Beach Police Department.

All law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County and five surrounding counties were notified and the boys were turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services, police said. Anyone with information about the children was urged to contact Long Beach police at 562-435-6711.

NBC4's Jonathan Lloyd and Toni Guinyard contributed to this report.

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