A Johnston, Iowa woman is accused of leaving her children home alone while she traveled to Germany for an 11 day trip.
Police have charged 30-year old Erin Lee Macke with four counts of child endangerment. When officers did a welfare check on September 20, they found the kids, ages 12, 12, 7 and 6 alone and an unloaded handgun in the house. They also charged Macke with one count of making a firearm available to a person under age 21.
Johnston Police say they called Macke in Germany and she admitted that she left her kids alone when all of her babysitter options fell through. She told officers she didn't plan to return until October 1. They ordered her to come back to Iowa, which she did a few days later.
She was taken into custody when she returned Wednesday night. Her children are now in the custody of family members.