On September 4, at approximately 6:22 pm, the Winchester Police Department responded to a report of possible child neglect at the Winchester Inn, located at 1347 Berryville Avenue.
When officers arrived, a strong odor of marijuana was detected in the room where three juveniles, ages 16, 11, and 7, appeared to be left without adult supervision. Contact was made with the suspect, Lori Ayala Alvarado, 37, of Winchester, who returned to the hotel room and admitted to smoking marijuana in the bathroom while the juveniles were present.
Multiple drug paraphernalia items were confiscated from the room. Ayala Alvarado was arrested and charged with three counts of child neglect (18.2-371.1) and one charge of possession of marijuana (18.2-250.1). She was taken to the Northern Region Adult Detention Center, and the children were later released to a family member.