Mother arrested for abandoning child at grocery store

RIVERSIDE, CA -- Riverside police have arrested the woman who they say intentionally abandoned her 2-year-old daughter at a Food 4 Less.

Investigators identified the woman as 31-year-old Chiengkham Vilaysane on Tuesday. They later confirmed to Eyewitness News that she had been arrested.

Vilaysane was caught on surveillance video entering the store in the 4200 block of Van Buren Boulevard Sunday with the toddler by her side. While inside, the child wanders off and Vilaysane never looks for her.

The woman continues shopping and at one point, a good Samaritan brings her the little girl. Authorities said the good Samaritan was told to "just leave her." The mother eventually abandons the little girl after paying for groceries, police said.

Investigators said the toddler was able to identify the woman as her "mommy" in surveillance footage.

Vilaysane could face a charge of child endangerment, which is a felony.

"There's more to the story, so we really want to figure out what's really going on and what help can be provided to her," Officer Ryan Railsback with the Riverside Police Department said. "Yes, she could be facing some charges, but more importantly we want to figure out what's going on with her and how we can help her with that first."

Many parents shopping at the market on Tuesday were shocked to hear that a mother would abandon her child.

Alan Engle, a single father of three daughters, came to the Food 4 Less with a teddy bear to give to police for the little girl.

"I just can't imagine somebody dropping their kid off and not coming back for them. It makes me sick," Engle said.

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