Fort Berthold mother charged with leaving 2 children without shoes or socks in car that wasn't running, says she left them to die

FORT BERTHOLD -- A 24-year-old woman is charged with child abuse on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

An affidavit from an FBI special agent says Michelle Wounded Face left two of her children alone in a car that wasn't running near Lake Sakakawea.

The two kids are under the age of five. One wasn't wearing a shirt and the other had a tank top on. Neither had shoes or socks. When police found the children they were scared and shivering. An AR-15 style rifle was in the vehicle.

After she left her children, Wounded Face took a vehicle from a man who was ice fishing without his permission. She was found at a home nearby.

When asked later if she left her children to die she responded, "honestly, yeah."

The affidavit says the average temperature that day was 1 degree Fahrenheit and that a wind chill advisory had been issued.

A judge ended a detention hearing today when Wounded Face didn't appear to understand the proceedings, she's being held in Rugby.