Mom accused of abandoning 4-year-old at Neosho truck stop, denying she had a daughter

A mother is facing eight criminal charges after allegedly abandoning her 4-year-old daughter at a Neosho truck stop.

Police say Kayla Marie Christensen drove away and later denied police that she even had a daughter.

Christensen is charged with second-degree child abandonment, three counts of child abuse or neglect, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and three counts of failing to restrain a child properly.

The investigation began shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, when Neosho police got a report of a young child found alone in the parking lot of Love's Travel Stop.

Investigators also allege Christensen left two other children unattended while she gambled at a casino in Wyandotte.

Court documents accuse Christensen of transporting the children without proper car seats or seat belt protection and placing them near suspected drug paraphernalia.

She also faces a drug paraphernalia charge involving a syringe allegedly intended for drug use.

Neosho police thanked the employees at Love's for keeping the young girl calm and safe until officers arrived.