A Florence County mother, who police say lost custody of her four children after leaving them alone for several weeks, has been released from jail on bond.

Police tell NewsChannel 15 the woman was living in Florence while her four children stayed 25 miles away in Pamplico.

Police say four brothers and sisters, 7-14 years old, lived alone in a home in Pamplico for several weeks. They say the 14 year old boy did his best to care for his younger siblings, while their mother, 32-year-old Lakesha McLeod, lived with a relative in Florence.

Neighbors can't recall the last time they saw McLeod at the home.

"I've only seen the mother one time and that was the first day of school, and the other times I just seen the kids by themselves," said Marquetta Wingate.

Officers say the kids were left alone in the home with no running water, no adequate food and no means of communication. Deputies arrested mcleod after they got a tip from school officials.

The four brothers and sisters have been placed in emergency protective custody.

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