NH Woman Diana Torres Accused Of Leaving Children In Room With Drugs

SALEM, N.H. -- A woman has been accused of leaving her two children alone in a hotel room with illegal drugs stashed in a drawer next to candy.

Diana Torres, 24, of Manchester, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and drug offenses.

Police said they were called to the Red Roof Inn in Salem about noon Tuesday.

"Responding officers found the room and located two children, ages 2 and 5, in the room, completely alone," said Deputy Chief Shawn Patten.

As police searched the room for contact information for a parent, they opened drawers and found small packets of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, Patten said.

"Also in the drawer at the time was a bunch of kids' candy -- individually wrapped packages of candy," he said.

Shortly after police arrived, Torres showed up and told police the children were hers and that she had left them the night before with another man in the room before going to a different room, Patten said. Torres said she didn't know the man's name, and Patten said police haven't been able to find him.

"We have no idea if that male even existed or if the kids were left alone in the room all night," he said.

Patten said police believe the children's lives were put at risk.

"Any time you have a drawer full of candy and drugs mixed in, the kids were in some danger," he said. "It's always disappointing to see something like this happen. I'm not sure what the mother was thinking. Clearly, she wasn't."

The children were placed in the custody of their grandmother, and the Department of Children, Youth and Families is launching an investigation.