Mom, 28, faces 20 years in prison for abandoning her five children under 12, including a 15-month-old baby, for four days in a home smelling of 'feces and trash' while she took beach vacation because she 'needed to get away'

A Texas mother faces up to 20 years in prison for accusations she left her five children at home alone while she went on vacation 'because she needed to get away with everything that was happening at home'.

Chrystal Walraven, 28, is accused of leaving her eldest, a 12-year-old boy with a child as young as 15 months – who authorities say appeared dead in her crib with a blanket over her mouth - when they entered the property that had an 'overwhelming odor' of feces and garbage.

They learned she was alive when an officer removed the blanket and rubbed her, prompting her to take a visible breath and move.

When law enforcement discovered the youngsters in the house on the 2700 block of High Point Drive in Round Rock on August 29, 2018, a 10-year-old boy answered the door, claiming everything was okay.

Walraven's two daughters, aged six and three, who seemed they had not bathed in days, were also in the home where police found a dirty diaper in a closet, stains on the carpet and flies in the kitchen.

She's accused of leaving 12-year-old and 10-year-old boys with her daughters, ages three, six and 15 months in Round Rock, Texas

An affidavit released Tuesday also noted the youngsters had access to knives while their mother stayed with a male friend in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

Cops were alerted about the situation by the principal at Gattis Elementary School who claimed some of the children had spoken about staying up late to change their sister's diaper. They visited the property shortly after the 4.24pm call.

When a teacher contacted a man listed as a father to at least one of the children, the man claimed a neighbor was taking care of them while the mother was out of state.

He told law enforcement he'd moved out of the property weeks before and no longer lived in Texas.

However the neighbor – who made the children dinner the night before and insisted she 'never knew exactly what was going on with the children', told police a second father was looking after them and would check in on the brood.

She claimed she never noticed the awful odors coming from the home.

Neighbors also told Fox 7 they assumed the mother was at work and didn't notice anything unusual because the children often played outside until midnight. The neighborhood residents said the youngsters appeared excited when Child Protective Services arrived.

Neighbors said they assumed the mother was at work and didn't notice anything unusual because the children often played outside until midnight

Authorities said a father claimed Walraven left them alone on August 25. She was due to return August 28 but didn't make it back until August 30. She claims her flight was delayed 

Authorities said the second man told them he declined to look after all five of the children but regardless, Walraven left them alone on August 25.

During a visit to the police station to get 'his child' he reported he'd brought the children food in an 11am-1pm visit the day Walraven left and for a few hours the following two days.

Walraven was due to return August 28 but didn't make it back until August 30. She claimed her flight was delayed several times and she kept in touch with the kids via Facebook Messenger.

In an August 30 interview with cops, she admitted she visited tourist locations in Myrtle Beach and explored a job opportunity. 

The woman was due to depart on her trip a day earlier than she left for four days but ended up returning to her home because her outbound flight was delayed.

She told law enforcement her husband had left their home weeks ago to return to Arkansas.

In an August 30 interview with cops she admitted she visited tourist locations in Myrtle Beach (pictured) and explored a job opportunity while staying with a male friend

She told law enforcement her husband had left their home weeks ago to return to Arkansas

The mother's Facebook profile showcases her relationship status as 'separated'. Images suggest she was involved with Jeff Walraven (pictured right) at least until May 2018

The mother's Facebook profile shows her relationship status as 'separated'.

Images on the social media account suggest she was romantically involved with Jeff Walraven at least until May 2018. His Facebook account indicates he began a relationship with new woman the same month Chrystal went away.

Despite the mother being questioned by authorities last year, a warrant for her arrest wasn't put out until last month because police 'needed to conduct a thorough investigation to make sure we had enough evidence'.

She turned herself in February 11 and was bonded out of jail the same day.

The accused had placed the blame on her neighbor and one of the fathers.

Cops were alerted about the situation by the principal at Gattis Elementary School who claimed some of the children had spoken about staying up late to change their sister's diaper

'He was supposed to be over here with the kids and he even told him that he was here the night before, um, you know, and that he got them food and everything,' she told KXAN  

'Mary was here during the day, she actually had to give them the car seats because she had been taking the kids back and forth to school, like everything. So no, definitely didn't abandon them. They were supposed to be here with the children and did not do that.'

The children were initially placed in foster care but now stay with the father of one of the children, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said.

Mother Walraven is charged with two counts of abandoning or endangering a child, a second-degree felony.

She could spend anywhere from two years to two decades behind bars.