Oklahoma parents arrested after toddlers found in 'freezing' street

An Oklahoma couple has been detained following reports that their toddlers were discovered wandering a public street in freezing conditions without adequate clothing.

Christina Dickenson, 22, and Phillip Welch, 21, have each been charged with one count of child neglect after Oklahoma City police responded to a welfare check on 20 February. Upon arrival, officers observed the children outside before even entering the residence.

The two toddlers were reportedly found almost entirely unattended in the road. According to police, one child was dressed only in pyjamas, while the second was allegedly wearing nothing more than a nappy and a T-shirt.

Historical weather data for that day indicates that temperatures in Oklahoma City plummeted to a low of -3°C during the late morning, only reaching a high of 11°C by the early evening.

Authorities initially connected the defendants to the scene after identifying them as the owners of a dog found outside with the children. It was subsequently determined that Dickenson and Welch were the toddlers' parents.

The couple was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Centre on Wednesday, with bond currently set at $50,000 each.

While the Oklahoma City Police Department has been approached for further details, the cases have not yet been formally docketed in the county court system.

The children's current welfare status remains under investigation as legal proceedings begin against the parents for the alleged neglect.