Florida cops say 3-year-old was left in hot car while her mom donated plasma — bystanders thought child was dead



Florida police said a 27-year-old woman left a 3-year-old child in a hot car for several hours while she donated blood at a plasma center on Sunday afternoon.

The woman found the girl unresponsive when she came back to the car and frantically called police for help at about 4:32 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the DeLand Police Department.

'I started to cry because I didn't think I was going to be able to get her back.'

While police raced to the business park on New York Avenue, bystanders tried to help the girl, and one was giving her CPR when emergency responders arrived.

The girl was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

An investigation by the DeLand Police Dept. determined that Latana Williams left the child unattended for about two hours on a day when the outside temperature had reached 84 degrees.

The girl was treated for symptoms consistent with heat exhaustion, according to the arrest report.

Police said Williams told them that the air conditioning was left running in the car and that she was monitoring the child through FaceTime on a tablet. However, police said they believed the car had been left with the ignition off.

One bystander named Marc Tait recorded Williams after she found her daughter and said he thought he was watching a child die.

Rosemary Roile told WESH-TV she was the person who gave the child CPR. She recalled becoming emotional after the child regained consciousness.

"I started to cry because I didn't think I was going to be able to get her back," Roile said.

Police arrested Williams on Sunday, and she was charged with child neglect, a first-degree felony. She denied any wrongdoing.

RELATED: Texas cops investigating odor at home believed someone died inside — they found 2 children living in horrific conditions

"Please take this as a reminder to always check your back seats," said Captain Prurince Dice, one of the officers who responded to the scene.

"Give yourself enough time when you're traveling so you're not in a rush when you arrive at your destination," he added.

Police said Monday that the child would likely recover but did not offer specifics about her condition.

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Texas cops investigating odor at home believed someone died inside — they found 2 children living in horrific conditions



Texas police officers said a home "smelled like death" when they were called to investigate after being alerted about the foul odor.

Inside they found two young children sitting in a bathtub halfway filled with dirty water and the home buried with feces, garbage, and maggots, according to an affidavit.

Police said the children smelled like 'urine, feces, body odor, and stagnant water.' The children said they didn't know how to read or write and had never been to school.

Officers from the Temple Police Department said they were called to the home on Young Avenue on May 20 after a caller reported the odor and no sign of the residents.

They knocked on the doors and windows, but no one responded. Then they noted flies at the windows, which led them to believe someone had died inside.

Police made entry into the home and found 34-year-old Michael Robbins and 68-year-old John Robbins coming to the door.

They inspected the home and said every surface was filled with garbage, rodent and mouse droppings, rotting food, and maggots.

Then they found the two children.

The 8- and 10-year-old children had matted hair that was apparently infested with bugs. When they were told to get dressed, they returned in foul-smelling clothing with food stains.

Police said the children smelled like "urine, feces, body odor, and stagnant water." The children said they didn't know how to read or write and had never been to school.

One of the children had their adult teeth growing rotten in their mouth, an affidavit said.

Police determined that the men were not providing food for the children and that they were forced to fend for themselves.

The children were transported to McClane's Children's Hospital for treatment.

RELATED: Police rescue 2 children from freezing home with 'overwhelming' smell of dog feces and urine: 'Like a punch to the face'

Neighbors told police they had not seen the children in years.

Both men were booked into the Bell County Jail on charges of abandoning or endangering a child with intent. They each have a bond of $60,000.

Temple is a city of about 82,000 residents located 80 miles north of Austin in central Texas.

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Feds, local cops rescue over 100 kids in Florida, just in time for Thanksgiving



A multi-agency operation led to the recovery of over 100 children from Florida and several other states.

Operation Home for the Holidays was led by the U.S. Marshals Service and involved partnerships with the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and other federal, state, and local entities.

'Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law.'

Jason Carley, the FBI field office’s special agent in charge, explained that the mission aimed to “find missing and potentially trafficked children.”

“In these types of operations, partnerships are essential,” he added.

The law enforcement operation, which ran over two weeks, resulted in the recovery of 122 children, FBI Jacksonville reported on Monday. The children were connected to care and services.

“Protecting our children is at the core of the FBI’s mission. This operation represents the very best of what can be accomplished when state, local and federal partners come together with a shared commitment,” FBI Jacksonville stated.

RELATED: Florida accuses Roblox of allowing child groomers to exploit children through 'sexually explicit material'

Image source: FBI Jacksonville

Law enforcement agents rescued 57 children from Tampa, 14 from Orlando, 22 from Jacksonville, 29 from Fort Myers, and 13 from other states and internationally, according to the Florida Attorney General's Office.

"The children ranged in age from 23 months to 17 years old, and many had experienced various levels of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to other criminal activity," a statement from the AG's office read.

— (@)

Six individuals were reportedly arrested on felony charges, including child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and endangerment.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the operation one of the nation’s largest child-recovery efforts.

“Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier stated.

RELATED: Florida's historic sting rescues dozens of kids and arrests alleged predators in nation's 'largest' child rescue sweep

Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images

“What allows our Middle Florida-based child recovery initiatives to stand out is the emphasis placed on what happens after,” said William Berger, the U.S. marshal for the Middle District of Florida. “We know these children will have needs once we find them. It only makes sense to build these operations alongside like-minded partners from across the child welfare space.”

“The United States Marshals Service is proud to stand with our partners across the state of Florida in pursuit of the safety and welfare of our children,” Berger continued. “This operation was built based upon the wants and needs of our communities. We are honored to play a leading role in answering those calls. Welcome Home and Happy Holidays!”

— (@)

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Mom allegedly left her children in filthy apartment with trash, human and animal feces, according to police



A woman was arrested and charged with child neglect on Nov. 9 for allegedly leaving her children in a filthy apartment full of human and animal feces, Michigan police said.

Police were called to a residence on South Francis Street over a possible break-in, but instead found the "deplorable conditions" that led them to arrest 31-year-old Teriomas Tremice Johnson, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

'It defies understanding how parents blessed with the gift of a child could show such cruelty.'

Deputies found a 12-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl, and a 9-year-old boy alone in the apartment. There was no working plumbing, and the children were forced to defecate in a cardboard box. Police said three cats also lived in the home and all of the sinks were clogged.

The sheriff's department also said that the children only sporadically attended school.

The children were placed into the custody of their fathers by Children’s Protective Services.

Johnson is facing three felony charges of second-degree child abuse. Each charge may be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. She had been on probation for 36 months after a conviction on retail fraud and other charges.

The sheriff's department posted two photographs from the apartment on social media.

RELATED: Police rescue 2 children from freezing home with 'overwhelming' smell of dog feces and urine: 'Like a punch to the face'

"It defies understanding how parents blessed with the gift of a child could show such cruelty," said Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard. "The complete lack of compassion and humanity is heartbreaking, and I am eager to see justice served for this unconscionable act."

Bond for Johnson was initially set at $250,000, but Magistrate Angelena Thomas-Scruggs revoked the bond after the suspect threw a chair and yelled an expletive at the official, according to the sheriff's office.

The School District of the City of Pontiac said the district is cooperating with the police investigation.

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Florida teen mom allegedly endangers her crying 2-year-old so she can watch 'Smurfs' movie in peace



An 18-year-old Florida mother took her younger siblings and her 2-year-old daughter to see the "Smurfs" movie at Regal Cinema 90 in Lake City last Saturday, WFOX-TV said.

During the movie, the daughter kept crying, so the mother took her into the lobby a few times to get her to calm down — and finally took her to their car, the station said.

'It's horrible.'

Lake City Police said the mother, Tipora Merriex, put her child inside the vehicle — locked and unattended — and returned to the movie theater.

A theater employee allegedly told investigators that Merriex appeared "very annoyed with her daughter's crying," Law & Crime reported.

RELATED: 3-year-old girl dies after being found in hot car with unconscious mom during 104-degree day, police say

Image source: Lake City (Fla.) Police Department

According to WFOX — which said it accessed a police report in connection with the incident — Merriex indicated that she closed the passenger side door and was going to the driver's side when she realized she locked herself out of the car.

However, the station added that a witness said Merriex "closed the door and went back inside the movie theater several times, leaving her child alone in the heat."

Police said officers responded to the theater just before 6 p.m. over reports of a child locked in a vehicle and found the 2-year-old "visibly distressed inside" the car. Police added that the outside temperature was 94 degrees with a 107-degree heat index at the time.

Police said they broke the driver's side window and removed the child, who "appeared flushed" and was "sweating and crying." Police said the child was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

Merriex was arrested and taken to the Columbia County Detention Center, police said.

RELATED: 'Break it!' Bodycam video shows moment cops save crying little kids locked in dangerously hot car for nearly an hour

Law & Crime said it obtained Merriex's arrest report and noted that it outlines her "very nonchalant demeanor as her child was in the locked vehicle." The arrest report said Merriex periodically exited the "Smurfs" movie showing to go outside and check on the victim, Law & Crime noted, before allegedly having her siblings perform the task.

According to jail records, Merriex was charged with felony child neglect, her bail was set at $50,000, and she was released Tuesday.

"I raise kids, and I never leave my kids in a car for more than a minute," Lake City resident Debbie Spencer told WFOX in the wake of the incident. "It's horrible."

Spencer also told the station, "I can't believe people do stuff like that. Yeah, it's bad."

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Illinois Reporters Use Tragic Child Abuse Case To Dishonestly Smear Homeschool Families

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Woman says Walmart fired her for posting video of toddler wearing only a diaper in store on 20-degree morning



A woman said a Mississippi Walmart fired her for posting video of a toddler wearing only a diaper in the store on a 20-degree morning earlier this month.

What are the details?

Felecia Darling told WLBT-TV she began recording after the boy’s mother entered the Byram store and put him in a cold shopping basket only wearing a diaper. The station in a previous story said the incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 17.

Darling added to WLBT that she took off her black coat and put it on the toddler after several shoppers approached the boy’s mother.

"You’re a mother, a child represents you,” Darling noted to the station. “And if you come in the store fully clothed, and your son is not, that shows a lot about your character and that shows a lot that you don’t care. How could you come in Walmart fully dressed knowing it’s a lot of people watching you? She probably thought nobody was going to step up, but, you know, we did.”

Video shows the mother tossing a bag of frozen items just in front of the toddler, who was seated in the main part of the cart.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Amid an argument with a shopper over the toddler, the New York Post reported that the mother "delivered a vulgar rant, pausing only to twerk briefly for the camera."

Police charged the mother, Kambria Darby, with child neglect, WLBT noted, adding that she was booked and processed at the Hinds County Detention Center on bond conditions the county Youth Court ordered.

The station also reported that Child Protective Services got involved and later released the toddler to an approved relative.

A GoFundMe to help cover Darling's monthly expenses while she's out of work has reached $40,700 as of Monday.

Atlanta Black Star said it reached out to Walmart multiple times for comment.

'They did Jesus the same way'

The Post said another video Darling posted that is no longer live shows a shopper dressing the toddler in clothes from the store while the mother stands nearby scrolling on her phone.

The paper added that police spoke to Darby outside and learned about shoppers dressed the still-shivering child inside the store.

EMS personnel checked the toddler before Child Protection Services arrived, the Post noted.

Darby after her release from jail got on social media and defended herself, the paper said, citing a Facebook post the Daily Mail said it viewed: “They did Jesus the same way, he felt sick to his stomach as well; he didn’t want to go through it.”

According to the Post, the mother of three said she hasn’t seen her children since the Walmart incident: “I know this too shall pass. I know one day me and my kids will be reunited.”

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Stepfather to serve life in prison after perceptive waitress rescues young boy from horrific abuse: 'I was used like a tool from God to help him'
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Stepfather to serve life in prison after perceptive waitress rescues young boy from horrific abuse: 'I was used like a tool from God to help him'



One brave waitress followed her instincts a couple years ago, and in doing so, she likely saved a young boy's life.

On New Year's Day 2021, a family of four entered the Mrs. Potato Restaurant in Orlando, Florida. However, waitress Flaviane Carvalho immediately sensed that something about the family wasn't right. While the mother, stepfather, and younger sister were all eating, the young boy was not. He was also quiet and not interacting much with the others. Upon closer inspection, Carvalho saw that he was covered in bruises.

Carvalho then quickly scribbled a quick note which read, "Do you need help? OK." She flashed the note to the boy once, careful not to catch the notice of the stepfather. At first, the boy gestured that he was fine, but Carvalho still wasn't satisfied, so she showed him the note again. This time, he nodded his head "yes."

Though Carvalho was also a manager at the restaurant, she consulted the manager on duty that day to see how she should proceed. The two agreed that she should call police.

She may have contacted law enforcement just in time. When police arrived and began conducting an investigation, they discovered that the 11-year-old boy was 20 pounds underweight and had been severely mistreated by his stepfather, Timothy Lee Wilson, and his mother, Kristen Swann, who witnessed the abuse and did nothing.

Reports say that Wilson, 36, had deprived the boy of food and water "for days at a time," forced him to perform "military-style exercises," and beat him when he didn't perform the tasks as expected. Wilson also hung the boy upside down from a door frame and chained him to a dolly on Christmas.

"We probably would’ve been talking about a potential homicide investigation," said Orlando Rolón, who was then the Orlando chief of police, "if [Carvalho] had not intervened when she did."

In June, a jury convicted Wilson of 10 charges, including false imprisonment of a child, aggravated child abuse with a weapon, and child neglect, and on Friday, the judge assigned to the case issued the harshest possible sentence.

"You have utterly failed, not only in the role of parent, but simply in the role of human being," Judge Wayne C. Wooten told Wilson. "For those reasons, I’m going to impose the sentence that the law allows me to impose, although candidly, in many ways, I feel like it is short of what you thoroughly and richly deserve."

Wilson will serve a life sentence plus 30 years. His wife, Swann, has been convicted of child neglect and will be sentenced on September 16.

Carvalho is grateful that justice has been served and that the boy is now living a much fuller and happier life. "I was used like a tool from God to help him," she told reporters.

The boy has reportedly been reunited with his biological father. There is no evidence that his 4-year-old half-sister had been abused.


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Mother allegedly leaves 3-year-old child to sleep on a city sidewalk while she's out clubbing



Police arrested a 25-year-old Florida woman after she reportedly left her three children alone in order to go to an area nightclub.

At least one of the children apparently left the family home during the night, and was said to be found asleep on a city sidewalk.

What are the details?

Authorities said that Fort Walton Beach mother Shyla Heidelberg was at a nightclub for at least an hour as two of her young children slept alone at home and one wrapped themselves up in a blanket and took to a neighborhood sidewalk to doze.

The young child, who is said to be just 3 years old, was unharmed in the incident, WKRG-TV reported.

Police arrested Heidelberg after the child was found outdoors, and the other two were found unsupervised inside the family’s home.

She reportedly told investigators that she went to the nightclub and left her children alone at home.

Authorities charged the woman with three counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. She was released from custody on Sunday, according to various reports.

When reached for comment by the New York Post, a woman identifying herself as Heidelberg said that she was not actually at a nightclub.

She told the outlet, “It wasn't true. I have proof that I wasn't in the club."

“Heidelberg,” the outlet reported, “said she has footage from her Ring doorbell camera that proves she didn’t leave her children to go to the club, as well as a few witnesses who will vouch for her whereabouts.”

“A couple people can state that I wasn’t there,” she insisted.

What else is there to know about this?

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office shared details of the incident in a news release on its Facebook page on Sunday.

A portion of the release read, “The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office was called to Gibson Street around one a.m. Saturday morning after a security officer found a three-year-old wrapped in a blanket asleep on a sidewalk. Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of two more young children asleep alone in an apartment at the complex.”

You can read the release in its entirety below.