A Saint Albans man remains in custody after police discovered his young child wandering a neighborhood alone in a diaper while he allegedly slept upstairs. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Mark Blake Jr., reportedly dismissed his parental responsibilities to officers, claiming he “doesn’t watch kids.”
The Saint Albans Police Department responded to the Kanawha Terrace area on Wednesday, April 15, following a report from a concerned citizen. The bystander discovered a small child walking the streets unattended, wearing only a diaper.
According to police statements, the citizen successfully guided the child back to a residence but received no response after knocking. Emergency services were alerted shortly thereafter.
Responding officers made several attempts to contact an adult inside the home. When those attempts failed, police entered the residence and located Blake asleep on the second floor.
Upon being confronted by authorities, Blake’s defense was notably dismissive. Investigators state that Blake told them, “This isn’t my deal. I don’t watch kids.”
This arrest marks a recurring legal issue for Blake. Investigative records confirm that he was already out on bond for a similar child neglect incident that occurred in August 2025. This prior history suggests a systemic failure in supervision that authorities are now scrutinizing.
Blake faces a felony charge of child neglect creating risk of injury. Following his arraignment, he was transported to the South Central Regional Jail. He is currently being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
The child is currently in the care of protective services, and the investigation remains active as prosecutors evaluate the breach of Blake’s previous bond conditions.
