Baby left alone on scorching Florida beach for an hour as parents were 'taking a stroll'
Brian Wilks, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37, were arrested after allegedly leaving their 6-month-old child alone on the beach while they took their other children for a walk
A couple from Texas left their 6-month-old baby alone on a Florida beach for an hour while they took a walk with their other children, local police announced.
Deputies were called to Miramar Beach in the Florida Panhandle after witnesses reported finding an infant in a tent that had been left unattended. It turned out parents Brian Wilks, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37, were "taking a stroll" down the beach with their other kids.
The parents returned and claimed they had put the baby down for a nap under a tent and lost track of time, the sheriff's office said. Security cam footage found that the parents were gone for about an hour and didn't take their cell phones with them.
Beachgoers dialed 911 around noon Friday upon seeing the 6-month-old child alone in a tent without any adult supervision at Miramar Beach, the Walton County Sheriff's Office reported. Good Samaritans had been looking after the child after noticing the infant.
Paramedics were called to examine the baby. Fire personnel assessed the child and found the baby was not in distress, officials stated.
While waiting for the South Walton Fire District to arrive, deputies said the parents returned to the scene. Both parents admitted to leaving their infant under a tent for a nap while they left with their other children, claiming they lost track of time.
The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of all the children until relatives arrive from Texas. The parents were arrested on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and were released from jail after posting bail.
Major Dustin Cosson with the Walton County Sheriff's Office told ABC Eyewitness News 13, "It's right there at that hour time frame, 50 minutes to an hour, way longer than what would be reasonable."
Cosson also said it was the parents' answer that concerned him. The baby was "napping" according to the couple, so they went for a walk. However, "That's all fine and dandy, but you don't just leave a baby at a house and then leave and go off to the store," he said. "The baby could roll over and suffocate itself, or the wind could blow a towel over its face. There's no telling what could have happened," Cosson added.
"This incident serves as a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences and can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes. The Walton County Sheriff's Office is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of every child in our community, whether they are residents or visitors," read the police statement.
Emphasizing that while Florida beaches are safe, authorities felt the parents' explanation was lacking, leading to the charges. "Yes, it's a bubble, but that doesn't mean as you cross over the county line or over the state line into Florida that we can just leave your common sense behind. It still means you have to do the best for your children," finished Cosson.