Tonimarie A. Barrett, New Rochelle Mother, Charged After Abandoning 13-Year-Old Daughter at Closed Pennsylvania Gas Station Following Argument

A New Rochelle, New York mother has been arrested after allegedly abandoning her 13-year-old daughter at a closed gas station in Pennsylvania following a heated argument late Sunday night.

According to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, Tonimarie A. Barrett, 42, was driving with her teenage daughter from a residence in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, back to their home in New Rochelle when the two stopped at a Turkey Hill convenience store in Tannersville shortly after midnight.

Police said Barrett and her daughter got out of the car after an argument. During the confrontation, Barrett allegedly threatened to stab her daughter before getting back into the vehicle and driving away, leaving the teen alone outside the closed business.

In a statement, authorities said:

“Barrett then proceeded to leave the juvenile at the closed business and drove to a gas station in Effort, where she remained until police contacted her shortly after 5 a.m.”

When questioned, Barrett allegedly admitted that she did not report her daughter missing or attempt to find her after leaving the scene. Police later located the girl safe, though no further details were released about her condition.

A criminal complaint obtained by the Pocono Record reveals that the dispute began when Barrett demanded her daughter hand over her iPad. The teen refused, believing her mother would destroy it. Barrett allegedly responded by threatening to stab the girl if she didn’t hand it over — which the teen eventually did.

The complaint also states that the daughter asked to use her mother’s cellphone for directions, but Barrett refused. After the argument escalated, Barrett allegedly drove off, leaving her daughter stranded at the darkened gas station.

The teen waited there for several hours before walking to another Turkey Hill location in hopes of finding help.

Barrett was arrested around 7 a.m. Sunday and charged with:

• Endangering the welfare of a child (third-degree felony)

• Recklessly endangering another person

• Making terroristic threats (misdemeanor)

She was booked into the Monroe County Correctional Facility to await arraignment. The felony charge of child endangerment carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

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