Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

NYC Mom Arrested For Leaving 5-Year-Old Alone In Mohegan Sun Hotel Room


By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 26, 2012

Modified Jan 26, 2012


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Xiao Xu Wu

 


By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 26, 2012

Modified Jan 26, 2012


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Connecticut police arrested a 38-year-old woman for risk of injury to a minor for leaving her five-year-old son in a casino hotel room so she could gamble. And police found out what happened because her son called 911.

According to the Courant, the boy dialed 911 and when a dispatcher answered, he said, "Who are you?" and "What's your name?":

The dispatcher spent more than four minutes engaging in a friendly conversation with the child and asking him questions, which led to the discovery that he was alone in a hotel room.

"There's a kid alone up there, a young kid," the dispatcher is heard saying in a muffled tone after the child told her his mom said not to open the door for anybody.

At one point, the dispatcher asks the child's age.

"Um, 1," he answers.

"You are not 1," the dispatcher responds.

"Maybe 2?" the child says.

"I think you're older than 2. Maybe 3?" the dispatcher says.

"Maybe," says the child.

The child was taken into Connecticut's children's protective services. Wu, who lives in New York City, is being held on $150,000 bail and "Police said a search of the mother's fingerprints found outstanding immigration charges and an arrest warrant in Rocky Mount, N.C., police said."

Mohegan Sun said, "Here at Mohegan Sun we do everything we can to provide the opportunity for all guests to act responsibly. When it comes to child care, we have multiple options available for guests including Kids Quest and Cyber Quest facilities. We have a no tolerance policy for things of this nature and are cooperating fully with all authorities on this matter."

Tagged

9/11

bad mother

casino

connecticut

gambling

mohegan sun


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases

Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.

By

Charles Lane

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET


6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane

News

6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane


Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

By

Carol Chen

Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park

By

Ramsey Khalifeh

Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker

By

Brittany Kriegstein


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .