What Happened
A New Hyde Park grandmother was arrested Thursday afternoon after police discovered her two young grandsons — a two-year-old and a five-year-old — crying and unclothed in a residential driveway, according to News 12 Long Island. The children were found near Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park following a witness report to police of two young children alone in the driveway.
Officers responding to that witness call found the two boys in distress — unclothed and crying — but physically unharmed. The children were not injured during the incident, police said.
Further investigation identified the boys’ grandmother, Claudia Garcia Zelaya, 51, of New Hyde Park, as the person responsible for their care at the time. News 12 Long Island reports that Zelaya had left the boys at home in the care of a 13-year-old relative. That relative departed the residence at an unknown time, leaving the toddlers without any supervision before the witness spotted them and contacted police.
Court documents cited by News 12 Long Island also revealed the broader context of the situation: Zelaya was specifically supposed to be caring for the children while their mother left for a job interview. Following the police investigation, the two boys were released to another family member. Zelaya was placed under arrest and charged with child endangerment.
Location & Road Context
The incident occurred near Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park, a densely residential hamlet straddling the Nassau County border. New Hyde Park sits in close proximity to major Nassau County corridors including the Northern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway (I-495), making it a heavily trafficked residential community. The specific driveway where the children were found has not been further identified beyond its proximity to Covert Avenue.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following her arrest Thursday, Claudia Garcia Zelaya, 51, was charged with child endangerment. She was arraigned the following day — Friday, July 18, 2026 — at First District Court in Hempstead, Nassau County, according to News 12 Long Island. No bail information or next court date was included in the initial report. The two boys, after being cleared by investigators as unharmed, were released into the care of another family member.
Broader Impact
Under New York Penal Law, child endangerment — specifically endangering the welfare of a child — is typically charged as a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a potential sentence of up to one year in jail. The case highlights a recurring concern in child welfare enforcement: the legal responsibility of a designated caregiver does not transfer automatically to a secondary, informal caretaker, particularly one as young as 13, who has no legal authority to be left solely responsible for toddlers under New York law.