Kambria Gabrielle Darby, a 26-year-old mother, was arrested in the parking lot of a Walmart in Byram, Mississippi after she brought her two-year-old son to the store wearing nothing but a diaper in freezing weather. She has been charged with child neglect after the incident occurred.
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On January 17 at around 10:30 am, the toddler was seen with no shirt, socks, or shoes despite the freezing temperatures dropping below 20F due to a winter storm. In a now-viral video, another shopper purchased a long-sleeved shirt and pants for the child and dressed him in the store, but he was still cold and shaking. The police intervened, placing the boy in a warm car and calling paramedics to assess his condition. Child Protective Services later took custody of him and his two siblings, releasing them to a relative.
Darby has been charged with contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child and has been booked into the Hinds County Detention Center and could face up to six years in jail if convicted. The incident was captured on video by a Walmart worker named Felicia Nicole, who confronted Darby and other shoppers. However, Felicia was later fired for posting the video online. According to Daily Mail, she expressed her frustration, stating that she was only trying to help and that Walmart did not care about its employees.
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After being released on bail, Darby took to Facebook to defend herself, posting a lengthy statement and attaching 54 photos of her children as proof of her parenting abilities. She claimed that she was being treated unfairly and compared her situation to that of Jesus. The photos included images of her children at Disney World, celebrating holidays, and participating in various activities. Darby emphasized that she provided for her children, took them on vacations, bought them designer clothes, and enrolled them in competitive sports.
“Something that I did come on here to say is this deformation of character is hurting my heart. Last night was my first night eating a few crackers since my kids have been gone. Ik this too shall pass. They did Jesus the same way, he felt sick to his stomach as well; he didn’t want to go through it. Ik one day me and my kids will be reunited, but something I did want to clear up was me being a ” neglectful” parent or ” mentally ill”. My kids have been to Disney world, meet Mickey in his office VIP style. They meet Blippi in person VIP style. They’ve been on planes (I was planning to Go to Dominic Republic this year, but it’s in God’s hands now). We go on vacations to indoor water parks, and my son takes swim lessons, soccer lessons, tumbling, and basketball. Etc etc for holidays I go ALL out my kids believe in the Easter bunny, Cupid, & not just Santa! It’s because I GO ALL OUT.”
Darby asserted that she was not mentally ill and a good mother, along with stating that she rarely posted photos of her children to protect their privacy but took many pictures as evidence of her parenting skills.
“
I am VERY PROTECTIVE of my kids! This why a lot of yall don’t know ! It’s cause i leave your mind wondering I don’t post my children, maybe 1-3 times a year ! I don’t play about my kids I love my kids & being away from them by force breaks my heart. If they were being neglected my village would’ve been said something ! Their God parents don’t work no type of basic job at alllll. My oldest 2 are Singh’s (the corner store yall love running into a lot of yall know my kids from being at the corner store with their dad) . My baby boy son dad & granny gone step behind him every time as well ik we may have had our differences at the end of the day no matter what I thank them ! My village ain’t gone play about my 3 & neither do I! Again I can’t say everything it’s a legal matter but my kids are not a charity case, they are not neglected, and I am Not mentally ill ! Stop it with the defamation!”
The shocking video footage of the incident showed Darby being confronted by shoppers appalled by her actions. One shopper draped a jacket over the child after Darby refused to provide him with clothing. The video also showed a kind older shopper dressing the boy in a long-sleeved shirt and pants she purchased.
Felicia later confirmed that the police were called on Darby, explaining that they had to intervene when they saw a child being neglected and exposed to the cold without proper clothing. She expressed her disbelief at Darby’s actions and shared her tragedy of losing a child, stating that she would never let her child be in such a situation. Felicia also faced consequences for her actions, as she was fired from her job after posting the videos. However, a fundraiser has been started to support her financially while seeking new employment.
