5-year-old girl found wandering outside apartment; mother at work, police say

Police officers and a good samaritan located a 5-year-old girl looking for her mother outside a Northeast El Paso apartment complex.

The child was found at 3:46 am Thursday at the complex at 3334 Zion.

The child told police officers her mother was not inside their apartment and she was trying to find her.

While at the scene, officers were met by 27-year-old Alejandra Merjil, later identified as the child’s mother.

Police said Merjil had left the child alone inside her apartment to attend work. The woman was arrested and charged with Abandoning and Endangering a Child,

Merjil was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond of $1,500.00.

A family member is currently caring for the child, police said.

ABC-7’s Joey Carrera first reported the story during Good Morning El Paso.