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HARTINGTON – Two South Dakotans received a sentence of probation on charges of child abuse after they left two young children alone at a Cedar County campground last summer.
Kari Rood, 26, Vermillion, S.D., and Colton Roland, 30, Yankton, S.D., both received six months of probation from Judge Sara Bauer in Cedar County Court earlier this month. Both were charged with misdemeanor child abuse.
In May 2024, campers reported a 2-year-old child at the playground without parental supervision and then a short time later noticed the child had a full diaper with feces falling out of it.
Attempts were made to get Rood to care for the child but she was reportedly incoherent.
Campers took turns caring for the girl and her 5-year-old brother, who were not clothed properly, and were hungry and thirsty.
When a Cedar County deputy arrived he made several attempts to rouse Rood and pulled her from the tent, according to court documents. When asked where her children were, Rood responded, “at daycare.”
Witnesses told law enforcement that Roland had briefly responded to the children after they asked him to but otherwise was sleeping. He had left the campground and was not present when officers arrived to investigate, but was later arrested.
