Mother of 4-year-old found wandering alone is arrested

“I was wondering where this little girl where did she come from”. I have no friends and no family for support since I’ve been here in Hartford.

At Nicks’ arraignment Wednesday in Superior Court in Hartford, Judge Carl E. Taylor set Nicks’ bail at $50,000.

Shi’day Nicks and Shafayla Nicks.

A 4-year-old girl found wandering the streets of Connecticut Tuesday morning had been left home alone while her mother turned tricks for cash, authorities said.

A citizen was driving on Collins Street in Hartford just after 10 a.m. Tuesday when they saw a young child walking alone. “I felt I had little choice”. They said Shi’day Nicks has lived in Springfield, Massachusetts and Mississippi.

About three hours after she left, police said the oblivious mom returned home and was greeted by police who informed her that her child was in their care.

Instead of staying in one place, her tiny daughter – found wearing a pink jacket, black leggings and panda bear slippers – told police she dressed herself and walked out the front door. “Nobody had ever seen her before”, Terrell said. Richard then proposed they spend more time together in exchange for more money and Nicks agreed, she told police.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hartford police asked for the public’s help in locating Shi’day Nicks, 22, after her 4-year-old daughter, Shafyalya Nicks, was found wandering alone in the area of 182 Collins St.

“Right now, as a grandfather and a father, it’s very disturbing because I don’t know what happened with my granddaughter”, Anthony Nicks said.

Nicks is being held on $150,000 bond and is due in court today.

Anthony Nicks said he has contacted DCF and hopes the child can live with him.