What was supposed to be a sunny beach day in Florida turned into a serious case of child neglect — and landed two parents in handcuffs.
Brian and Sara Wilks, a couple visiting from Texas, were arrested on Friday after they allegedly left their 6-month-old baby alone in a tent on Miramar Beach while they went for a walk with their three older children. According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the infant had been left unattended for about an hour before concerned beachgoers spotted the baby and called 911.
The incident happened just around noon, and thankfully, strangers stepped in to care for the infant until first responders arrived. Paramedics evaluated the child, who was found not to be in distress.
When deputies arrived and began investigating, the Wilkses reportedly returned to the scene and admitted they had placed the baby in the tent for a nap — then walked off, claiming they simply “lost track of time.”
“They left a 6-month-old in a tent by themselves. On a beach. In Florida. For an hour,” the Sheriff’s Office said in disbelief via press release. “This incident serves as a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences.”
Both parents, Brian, 40, and Sara, 37, were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. They’ve since been released after posting a $1,000 bond each. Their next court appearance is set for November 18.
In the meantime, the Department of Children and Families has taken temporary custody of the couple’s four children until other relatives from Texas could travel to pick them up. The parents are under court orders to avoid contact with the infant during the legal process and must fully cooperate with child welfare officials.
Sheriff Michael Adkinson commended the quick-thinking bystanders who raised the alarm. “We’re thankful for the beachgoer who stepped up and for those who treated this baby with the care and concern they’d show their own child,” he said.
While the baby is okay, authorities are making it clear: this could have ended very differently.