NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A 30-year-old woman who lives at Fort Eustis pleaded guilty Monday to felony child neglect, assault, and driving under the influence following separate incidents involving her children and husband.
Rachel Lorane Pendergrast admitted that on Dec. 3, 2025, she left her 3-year-old home alone while driving to pick up her oldest child from school. Court records state she had been drinking vodka that morning and took her 1-year-old with her, while leaving the 3-year-old unsupervised.
A neighbor called police after finding the child crying near the roadway and trying to cross the street, wearing only a diaper and a t-shirt in 48-degree weather. About 10 minutes later, Pendergrast returned with the other children. Officers reported she appeared disoriented and smelled of alcohol. Preliminary breath tests showed blood alcohol concentrations of 0.304 and 0.298. About five hours later, her level was 0.18, which is still over the legal limit to drive…