Insets: Johnny JeanBaptiste and Stacia McMillian (Osceola County Jail). Background: Jones Road near Talisi Loop in St. Cloud, Fla., where a toddler was allegedly found walking alone (Google Maps).
A Florida mother and father are accused of leaving their 2-year-old alone at home before the child walked out the front door and was seen wandering in the middle of the road late at night.
Johnny JeanBaptiste, 36, and Stacia McMillian, 32, are charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, court records say.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, a motorist called 911 around 11:30 p.m. Saturday after spotting the toddler walking alone in the middle of Jones Road near Talisi Loop in St. Cloud, an Orlando suburb. The motorist stopped and brought the child to safety.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
The child was not hurt, but was scared and crying, cops said.
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office searched the neighborhood and eventually found the house where the toddler lived. The door was wide open — but no one was home, the affidavit said. There were toys in the home and a picture of the boy, confirming deputies had found the right home.
A deputy called JeanBaptiste, who answered but allegedly hung up on him. The deputy tried calling several more times, but JeanBaptiste blocked the number, the affidavit stated. Eventually, JeanBaptiste answered and said they were at the store and would be home in five minutes.
JeanBaptiste and McMillian arrived in a Toyota Corolla around 12:30 a.m. — about an hour after the motorist found the terrified child walking alone, deputies said.
JeanBaptiste and McMillian refused to answer questions about their whereabouts other than saying they got into a fight and went to a store, cops said. Both allegedly smelled of alcohol. McMillian allegedly laughed as cops questioned her.
They were arrested and taken to the Osceola County Jail, where they remain without bond.
A family member picked up the child. The Department of Children and Families also is investigating the incident.
The post Dad hung up on cops asking about his whereabouts after his 2-year-old was found walking alone in the middle of a dark road: Police first appeared on Law & Crime.
