Tullahoma Couple Charged with Aggravated Child Neglect After Children Found Alone

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — A Tullahoma couple is facing charges after authorities say they left two young children home alone in a smoke-filled apartment while they were away using drugs.

Deven Scott Hudgins, 25, and Kaitlyn Theresa Elaine Hudgins, 22, have been charged with aggravated child neglect, a felony offense under Tennessee law. According to police reports, firefighters discovered the children — both under the age of three — after responding to a fire alarm at the couple’s apartment.

“It was determined that a pot was left on the stove, with the burner on high,” the warrant stated. “This led to the apartment filling with smoke.” Tullahoma firefighters rescued the children and transported them to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Deven Hudgins

Authorities said it took several hours to locate the parents, who were eventually found at a relative’s home in Fayetteville. During questioning, police determined the couple had used narcotics and knowingly left their children unattended. A third child, six months old, was reportedly with them at the time.

Because the victims were under the age of eight, prosecutors said the pair could face enhanced penalties under Haley’s Law, which raises aggravated child neglect involving very young or vulnerable children from a Class B to a Class A felony. Under Tennessee law, a Class A felony carries a potential prison sentence of 15 to 25 years, while a Class B felony carries 8 to 12 years for a standard offender.

The case remains under investigation by the Tullahoma Police Department.

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