NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (TCN) — A 29-year-old woman is behind bars on suspicion of child neglect in connection with the alleged abandonment of her four children.
NBC Miami reports that on Sept. 24, the father of a 2-month-old baby became concerned when he saw a WhatsApp post, allegedly made by Nathalie Belizaire, showing a ticket for a cruise. He spoke to Belizaire, who allegedly said she would take the children to their great-grandmother’s house.
The infant’s father went to Belizaire’s apartment on Sept. 26 and allegedly saw the TV on through the blinds and heard children’s voices, according to NBC Miami. Police and the fire department responded and forced entry. Belizaire’s four children were reportedly found hiding in a bathroom.
Investigators learned that Belizaire had allegedly left on a three-day cruise to the Bahamas on Sept. 25; police had unsuccessfully tried to contact her several times, per NBC Miami. The great-grandmother was interviewed by police and claimed Belizaire had told her she would drop off the children but never did.
An arrest report obtained by NBC Miami states Belizaire “left all four minor children, including a 2-month-old infant and a 2-year-old child, inside the residence without adult supervision while the defendant traveled out of town aboard a Carnival Conquest cruise ship.”
NBC Miami reports Belizaire was apprehended after she disembarked from the cruise ship on Sept. 28. WSVN reports she was arrested on four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.
Her bond was set at $10,000 at a hearing on Sept. 29, per NBC Miami. The children are in foster care.
Judge Mindy Glazer said during the hearing, “You cannot make this up. It says she went on a cruise and left her children home alone. … These poor kids, four of them, were home alone for three days. … I’m just grateful nothing worse happened to these kids,” NBC Miami reports.
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