Woman arrested after daughter misses 44 days of school

PERU, Ind. (WISH) — A woman has been arrested for neglect of a dependent due to her daughter’s excessive absences from school.

Police say 36-year-old Jennifer Rowe’s daughter missed 44 days of school between Aug. 4 and Nov. 6 last year. Investigators believe there is no valid reason the girl was not present at Peru High School and say Rowe apparently did not take any reasonable steps to get her daughter to school.

“The school and the Indiana Department of Child Services set up an agreement with Rowe for her daughter to maintain a certain percentage of attendance at school,” said Detective Josh Maller with Indiana State Police. “The agreement was not honored by Rowe resulting in the criminal investigation.”

Neglect of a dependent is a level six felony.