Shreveport Police officers were dispatched to the 3500 block of Milan Street at the Villa de Lago Apartments following a report of two young children found unattended and locked on a second-floor balcony on Thursday, April 10, at approximately 7pm.

A concerned neighbor noticed the children and immediately notified the apartment manager’s office. The
manager then contacted the Shreveport Police Department. Upon arrival, officers discovered a three-year-old and a five-year-old locked outside on the balcony without supervision.

Officers were able to make contact with the children’s mother, identified as Jessica Ogula, who arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. Ogula initially claimed she had left the children in the care of a babysitter. However, further investigation revealed this to be false. It was later determined that she had left the children alone on the balcony while she went to work—a practice she had allegedly done on multiple occasions.

According to the officers’ report, the children were barefoot, dressed in soiled clothing, and had a strong odor of urine. Ogula was arrested and charged with two counts of child desertion. The children were released into the care of a responsible adult.

The investigation is ongoing.