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Uptown Couple Charged With Leaving Kids Home Alone For 2 Days

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Uptown neighborhood couple turned themselves into police Tuesday, after allegedly leaving their kids home alone for two days.

As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, the children were 12 and 9, a boy and a girl.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports

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The 12-year-old boy, according to police, told his teacher on Feb. 23 that their parents went to Las Vegas, leaving them home alone in their residence in the 4800 block of North Winthrop Avenue, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Police contacted the boy's father, who said he would be back on Feb. 25, the Tribune reported. The children were placed in care of an aunt, and their parents, Shanpreta Howard, 34, and Antowain Johnson, 36, were each charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the life and health of a child, the Tribune reported.

Police say Howard and Johnson left the children alone from 6 p.m. Feb. 22 until 4:15 p.m. Feb. 24, the Tribune reported.

On her Facebook page, Howard posted: LOVE OUR KIDS WITH ALL OUR HEART N WILL TRAVEL TO THE END OF THE WORLD FOR THEM#PROUDPARENTS

The news draws memories of an infamous Chicago area case dating back nearly 20 years, in which a Kane County couple left their two young daughters home alone while they vacationed in Acapulco, Mexico, for eight days in December 1992.

David and Sharon Schoo were charged with felony child abandonment and cruelty to children, and misdemeanor child endangerment, after leaving their daughters, Nicole, 9, and Diana, 4, alone in their home near St. Charles.

In a remark by their attorney, the Schoos were deemed "the most hated couple in America." They ultimately gave up their parental rights and releasing the girls for adoption.

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