Felony charge dropped against Cedar Rapids woman who left toddler, baby alone

CEDAR RAPIDS — A prosecutor dismissed charges earlier this month against a Cedar Rapids woman who was charged with abandonment of her 2-year-old and 9-month-old children who were left alone while she went to work.

Zuena Rambo, 25, was charged with abandonment of a dependent person last year and three cases involving Rambo and her children were also opened in juvenile court, according to court documents.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Mike Harris, in his motion to dismiss, said Rambo had complied with the conditions set in those cases and cooperated with Department of Human Services and juvenile court regarding her children, so he was dropping the felony charge.

Rambo has agreed to pay any court costs related to this case, Harris said.

According to the criminal complaint filed in March 2022, Rambo left the children alone to go to work in a different city. A city housing inspector and a maintenance person at her apartment building found the children and contacted police.

“The children were left to fend for themselves and had no adult supervision,” the complaint stated. “The 9-month-old was found eating a croissant roll with spoiled milk, face covered in mucus in a room that smelled like urine.”

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