Manatee County deputies are searching for a man whose children were found wandering alone in an East Bradenton neighborhood.
The twin 4-year old boys were found around 10:15 pm in the Oneco area Tuesday.
Kim Todd heard the boys' cries for help while inside her home.
"I was just inside watching TV and everybody, my kids, were sleeping," she said. "And all of the sudden I heard some screams from little kids and I'm like what is going on."
When Todd opened the door, she was shocked to see the boys outside all alone.
"I said come here, come here and tell me what's wrong," she said. "They were just screaming, 'We're looking for our dad, we can't find our dad, and our mom is asleep.' They were just really confused."
Todd said the boys told her multiple stories. She said they told her their dad went into a nearby home and never came back, and that they were left home alone and left to search for their parents.
While trying to calm them down, she called 911. The boys crying for their parents can be heard on the 911 recording.
Manatee sheriff's deputies searched the area for the boys' home and parents. They were unsuccessful.
With no parents to claim them or home to go to, Child Protective Services took the boys into custody to care for them.
Three hours after they were found, the children’s mother called to report them missing. She told investigators she went out do laundry and left the children with their father.
She said when she returned, they were gone.
Detectives are now looking for the boys’ father, Dominick Hawkins. They said he has a criminal record and may have a drug problem.
Hawkins now faces possible child neglect charges.
As of Wednesday night, the Manatee County Sheriff’s office said the boys were still in protective custody.