An Oklahoma couple is facing felony charges after authorities discovered they left three of their young children completely unsupervised at home while they traveled to a neighboring town to play pickleball.
According to Globe, Andrew Dick and Feather Roberts were arrested by the Glenpool Police Department and each charged with three counts of child neglect. The incident has sparked a flood of comments on Facebook about child safety, the limits of technology in emergencies and the responsibilities of modern parenting.
The chain of events began on Sunday, Aug. 30, when a relative grew increasingly alarmed about the safety of the children. According to the official police statement released on Facebook by the Glenpool Police Department, the relative became suspicious after one of the older children mentioned they had been left home alone on a previous occasion.
They were reported by a relative
Suspecting that the children might be unattended once again, the family member contacted Roberts to check on their status. Roberts allegedly told the relative that she and Dick were playing pickleball at the Courts and Commons facility in Bixby, Oklahoma — approximately a 20-minute drive from their home — but claimed that the children were currently under the care of a babysitter.
Unconvinced by the reassurances, the relative drove directly to the couple’s Glenpool home to check on the children. Upon entering the residence, they discovered that the three children were completely alone, prompting an emergency hang-up call that sent officers to the scene.
When Glenpool patrol officers arrived at the residence, they confirmed that no adult was present. Officers found the couple’s 8-year-old and 5-year-old children watching television, while their 1-year-old toddler was asleep in another room.
While police were conducting their on-scene investigation, Dick and Roberts returned to the property. As reported by Law&Crime, the parents admitted they had been in Bixby playing pickleball.
When investigators questioned the parents about how such young children were supposed to handle a crisis or contact them in an emergency, Roberts defended their decision by stating that the children had been left with an iPad. Police documents reveal that Roberts claimed the tablet was fully accessible and that the children knew how to use it to place a call if something went wrong.
They took the youngest to a babysitter
As the story broke, several outlets added more context to the controversy surrounding the couple. According to News on 6, Dick and Roberts actually share a fourth child — an infant. On the day of the incident, the parents had arranged for a babysitter to care for the baby, yet allegedly chose to leave the 8-, 5- and 1-year-old children at home without a sitter.
The children were reportedly found safe and in good health by authorities. Following the parents’ arrests, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) was notified to step in and take the appropriate protective measures for the children.
Under Oklahoma state law, child neglect can carry serious penalties, including prison time, depending on the circumstances of the case and the allegations involved.
The case has since been handed over to prosecutors, who will determine the next steps.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 06:32 am