Mom speaks out after Elyria 4-year-old found wandering in street again

ELYRIA, Ohio - An Elyria defended her family today. 

"I just want the public to quit with their judgmental statements saying that … me and my husband don't deserve our kids, because that's not the case," said an emotional Voila Bolt as she spoke exclusively to NewsChannel5.

Viola Bolt wants to set the record straight on the type of parents she and her husband are.  Her husband, Jesse Bolt, was cited with Child Endangerment after Elyria police picked-up their 4-year-old son, Jesse Bolt Jr.  He was found wandering alone, at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of West Avenue and 15th Street. 

According to the police report, the boy was disoriented, scared and was having difficulty speaking. He was shivering in the 28-degree weather in a sweatshirt and jeans, police said.

Officers tried to have the toddler show them where he lived, but he lead them to a storage shed behind an apartment building, the report said. Eventually, police were able to track down his grandfather.

The next day, Elyria police spoke with his father, Jesse Bolt Sr., who said he gave his two kids a shower before going to bed. When his wife woke him at 3 a.m., the door was open and the boy was gone.

From what her 4-year-old son told her, Viola Bolt said, "… my son got out of bed in the middle of the night.  He got out of his pajamas.  He got dressed.  He unlocked my doors and he left."

For police it's the second time the toddler was found wandering.  Police also noted Viola, herself, was charged with Child Endangerment in 2011. 

Prentiss Thomas, who works at the corner store near where Jesse Jr. was found said, "It's scary.  I mean, it's like, you know … why?"

Thomas said police came knocking on his door to see if he recognized Jesse Jr., but Thomas said he didn't know who Jesse Jr. belonged to.  As to how Elyria residents are reacting, Thomas said, "People are upset, you know … and what they say is, 'Hey, how is it that a person doesn't know that their 4-year-old is missing?"

"He's only 4," said Viola Bolt, "He shouldn't be outside unattended.  I'm well aware of that, but this wasn't a complete disregard to our kids.  We're not, you know, just parents that don't care.  It's not like we went to sleep with our child awake, either time this has happened."

Bolt said this was not noted in the Elyria Police Report but told NewsChannel5 the charges against her had been dropped.  She also said she and her husband have installed alarms including one outside of their children's bedrooms. 

Elyria police said Jesse Bolt Sr. is due in court on November 26th.