WINK, Texas — 38-year-old Mike Mares of Fort Worth was arrested on Saturday by the Winkler County Sheriff's Office after allegedly leaving three children unattended in a RV in Wink, assaulting his girlfriend in Odessa and more.
According to WCSO, around 5:15 a.m., deputies responded to the Royal RV Park located at 907 North Roy Orbison Drive in Wink. They were responding to the RV Park because three children ages 10, nine and five-months-old were left unattended and unable to find their parents, according to a post from deputies.
A neighbor told deputies that the children showed up at Mares' RV at around 2 a.m. and told him that their mother was missing after being violently assaulted by Mares. According to WCSO, the children told the neighbor that her mother was also missing.
Deputies were able to interview the three children. After speaking with the children, WCSO determined that the mother was reportedly assaulted by Mares and rendered unconscious in Odessa.
The post states that Mares was fueling his car up in Ward County when the mother escaped from the vehicle, attempting to find help. That is when Mares drove off with the children.
According to deputies who were told by the children, Mares drove the children to their RV in Wink, left them and told them that he was going to look for their mother.
According to WCSO, the children said that Mares took their one-year-old sister, who also ended up missing.
WCSO did end up making contact with Mares, whom, according to the post, "had returned at an unknown time yet did not question why or report that the children were no longer at the RV because he was 'tired.'"
Mares did have injuries due to what WCSO determined as "indicative of an assault."
Mares was then placed under custodial arrest.
According to the post, Texas Rangers were notified to assist due to having additional resources.
Shorty after they were notifed, the mother and one-year-old daughter were found safe. The mother was seen with several injuries indicative of an assault, according to WCSO.
The five-month-old child also sustained injuries indicative of an assault, WCSO said.
According to WCSO's post, below are the list of charges Mares is facing:
- Four counts of abandon endanger child imminent danger of bodily injury, second degree felony
- one count of injury to a child with intent bodily injury, third degree felony
- one count of unlawful restraint, Class A misdemeanor
- one count of family violence-assault bodily injury, Class A misdemeanor
Mares has been booked into the Winkler County Detention Center.