Owatonna woman charged with child neglect after refusing to pick up 12-year-old daughter from hospital

An Owatonna woman has been charged with gross misdemeanor child neglect after refusing to pick up her 12-year-old daughter at the hospital.

On Aug. 28, the Owatonna Police Department received a call from a social worker with MN Prairie regarding a child protection concern.

The social worker told police that she was working with a 12-year-old girl who had been admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital due to mental health concerns and that the child was ready to be discharged, but her mother, Amy Lynn Evenson, 41, of 230 W. Holly St. in Owatonna, had told hospital staff that she refused to pick her up.

Evenson reportedly confirmed she had spoken to the hospital and refused to pick up her daughter because the 12-year-old had been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, ADHD, autism, disruptive mood disorder and depression. Evenson claimed her sister had taken custody of the girl from the time she was 6 years old until February of this year.

Officers informed Evenson of her obligation to provide for her daughter, but she reportedly said she and her fiancé refused to bring her dau...