A Minnesota grandmother will serve hundreds of hours of community service after being found guilty of leaving her grandchild in a roadside ditch while heavily intoxicated. The incident, which occurred during cold and rainy weather conditions last fall, resulted in a concerned citizen rescuing the abandoned infant.

According to KVLY, Anastasia Elizabeth Vaughn was sentenced this week to serve 492 hours of community service, equivalent to a 45-day sentence, following her conviction. Court records indicate the grandmother was found with a blood alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit after abandoning her grandchild in dangerous conditions.

The October 2024 incident took place in Otter Tail County, where temperatures hovered in the 50s amid wind and rain. A passing motorist spotted Vaughn walking shoeless along a roadway carrying an infant before later discovering the baby alone in a ditch.

Passerby's intervention saved infant

The unidentified good Samaritan initially encountered Vaughn walking barefoot with the baby in her arms. When approached and asked if she needed assistance, Vaughn insisted she was fine and continued walking, according to court documents detailing the encounter.

After briefly pulling over nearby, the witness observed Vaughn running away from the area without the child. Upon investigation, the passerby discovered the infant lying unattended on the ground in a roadside ditch, prompting an immediate call to law enforcement.

Sheriff's deputies later located Vaughn wandering in a wooded area near the scene. Officers noted multiple signs of intoxication, including stumbling movements, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the strong smell of alcohol emanating from her person.

Extreme intoxication evident

Responding officers documented that Vaughn appeared disoriented during their interaction. She reportedly told them she was searching for a child but couldn't coherently answer basic questions about the situation.

When authorities tested Vaughn's blood alcohol concentration, it registered at .229 percent – nearly three times Minnesota's legal driving limit of .08 percent. This extreme level of intoxication likely contributed to her impaired judgment and inability to care for the infant.

Vaughn's husband informed investigators that the couple lived in the vicinity, confirming his wife had been consuming alcohol earlier that day. However, he expressed confusion about why she had taken the grandchild outside in such conditions.

Court delivers consequences

The court handed down multiple penalties following Vaughn's conviction. Besides the 492 hours of community service, she received a two-year supervised probation term and a $500 fine for her actions.

Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the child's current custody situation or potential family services involvement following the incident. The infant's parents were also not mentioned in the available court documents.

Court records reveal Vaughn claimed memory loss regarding the incident. When investigators questioned her about her alcohol consumption that day, she reportedly refused to provide specific details about how much she had drunk.

Why This Story Matters

This case underscores the intersection of substance abuse and child endangerment and how dangerous choices made by caregivers can have lasting effects on children. It also highlights the importance of community vigilance and timely reporting of suspicious behavior. Accountability in the justice system ensures that actions like these are not ignored, thereby promoting child safety.

Conclusion

Anastasia Elizabeth Vaughn was sentenced this week in Otter Tail County following a troubling incident in October 2024. She was found guilty of abandoning her grandchild in a ditch while intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.

As a result, she will serve 492 hours of community service, be on supervised probation for two years, and pay a $500 fine. Authorities credit a bystander's actions for the safe recovery of the child, whose future custody arrangements have not been disclosed. This case has sparked concern over substance abuse and child safety, reinforcing the importance of public awareness and accountability in preventing similar events.