Couple leave 6-month-old baby on the beach alone – then give excuse | World | News
The parents of a six-month-old child have been charged after allegedly leaving the baby unattended on the beach for nearly an hour because they “lost track of time.” Brian and Sara Wilks, of Houston, Texas, were reportedly at Miramar Beach in Florida with their four children.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said officers responded to reports that the baby was left unattended on the beach around noon on Friday, October 10. When deputies arrived, witnesses confirmed that the child had been left alone for approximately an hour while the parents walked on the beach with three other children.
According to WCSO, Good Samaritans were caring for the child and called law enforcement. “While deputies were waiting for South Walton Fire District personnel to arrive and evaluate the baby, the parents returned to the scene and both claimed they lost track of time and admitted to putting the child under the tent for a nap before leaving with their other child,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“Security footage obtained during the investigation confirmed that the family had been away for approximately an hour and had not brought their mobile phones with them.
“South Walton Fire Department personnel evaluated the infant and confirmed that the child’s vitals were normal and that he was not in distress. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified and immediately responded to the scene.”
Brian, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37, of Houston, Texas, were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, the statement said. Authorities detained the children pending the arrival of family members traveling from Texas, police said.
The parents were both bailed the next day on a $1,000 (£745) surety.
The WCSO statement continued: “This incident is a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences, sometimes leading to tragic results.
“The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of every child in our community, whether residents or visitors.”
Sheriff Michael Adkinson added: “We are grateful to the quick-thinking beachgoer who raised the alarm and to those who stepped in to care for the child with the kindness and concern they show to their own children.”
