Shoeless, Drunk Grandma Who Left Infant in Roadside Ditch Receives No-Jail Sentence

In a case that shocked a small Minnesota community, a 52-year-old woman who left her infant grandchild in a cold, wet roadside ditch while intoxicated will avoid jail time.

Anastasia Vaughn made headlines last October when she was found stumbling through the woods in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, barefoot and severely drunk, after abandoning her baby granddaughter. The weather that day was rainy and about 50 degrees Fahrenheit — far from safe conditions for an infant. Thankfully, a good Samaritan happened to spot the child in time and called authorities.

Vaughn, who later told police she had been “looking for a child,” was found with a blood alcohol content of .229 — nearly three times the legal limit for driving. She was incoherent and slurring when taken into custody.

She was charged with child endangerment, a crime that can carry nearly a year in jail and up to a $3,000 fine in Minnesota. But in a plea deal that’s stirred public debate, Vaughn avoided incarceration entirely. Instead, she was sentenced to community service and will likely face strict conditions such as sobriety monitoring and counseling.

The court’s decision has sparked mixed reactions. Some argue Vaughn deserved jail time given the serious risk to the child’s life, while others believe rehabilitation and treatment are more appropriate in cases involving substance abuse.

For now, Vaughn will serve her sentence outside of a jail cell — but with watchful eyes on her next steps.

This incident serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly poor choices under the influence can put innocent lives in danger. Fortunately, this time, someone found the baby before it was too late.