Do you know where you live? Are you hurt? What's your mama's name? Do you know your mama's name? >> And then you went to the vibe with >> Yes, my boyfriend. I met up with him over there. >> So, nobody was here watching the kids from about 11:30 until we got here. >> In the early hours of April 30th, 2022, deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence after reports came in about a 3-year-old child found wrapped in a blanket and sleeping on a sidewalk. But, when officers arrived at the scene and began piecing together what had happened, they quickly realized they were dealing with a deeply disturbing case of severe mistreatment. >> What's the matter? What's your mama's name? Do you know your mama's name? Mama, do you know you Is your mama? How long have you been out here? You say 4 hours? Are you cold? You want to come sit in the car and warm up? You don't want to? You just want to keep laying there? No? Where you want to go? You want to go sit in the car for a few minutes till we find your mama? No? But, you can come sit with me in the car while we find your mama, okay? No? Okay. I'm not going to make you go over there if you don't want to. What's your name? Well, there you go. What kind What kind of car does your mama have? Car? You want to point it to me? Come on. Listen, you want to show me which one it is? The white one right here? The red one? Oh, okay. I thought you said it was the red one. You like Lilo and Stitch? You got some Stitch blankets? >> You like Lilo and Stitch? When was the last time you saw your parents? Do you remember? Yeah, when did you see them last? >> In the car alone? All alone? You were in the car all alone for how long? Do you remember? Is it unlocked right now? Do you know? >> No? All right. Well, here, I'll be right back. >> The officers were shocked. Who could leave a 3-year-old child alone outside in the cold, completely unattended to? Determined to figure out how the child ended up in such a dangerous situation, they began searching for where he lived. But, once they finally located the home and stepped inside, what they discovered was even more shocking than they had imagined. >> Now, we're going to knock on the door, all right? Look, come in here. What's What's her name? I'm sorry. Shiloh, okay. Okay. Is there a red car over here? >> Yes, ma'am. I believe so. Do you know what kind of car it >> Do you know which car is hers? >> Yeah, it's the red one. What are you What are you doing, Shiloh? What are you doing outside? Did you open the door and come out? My child sleepwalks. He tried to get out the door. How long you been up? >> I opened the door and the door opened up. >> Shiloh. >> Yeah. For a little while? >> Yes. Shiloh. She don't know where the woman is. >> Is she a friend of yours or do you just >> my neighbor. Like we communicate back and forth like when we see each other, but we don't talk on the phone. >> Okay. Okay. >> The first major breakthrough came when a neighbor helped deputies identify the child's mother, Shiloh Heidelberg, who was nowhere to be found. As officers searched her apartment, they discovered two more young children inside, left completely unattended as well. However, it turned out that this was only the beginning of what they were about to uncover. >> Is it Is it >> No, this is a friend that's been going back and forth from her house to here to watch them. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> I'm going to go back in a little bit. >> Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. I Forgive me, I just walking out here and kind of getting in the middle of it. Which apartment do you stay in? >> Building three, apartment 12. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. So, he I'm just trying to understand. Is this something that you always do or is this just like a tonight thing or >> Just tonight, not always here. >> Okay. Okay. So, how do you know the the woman that lives here? Like, did y'all like work together or are you just friends? >> we're friends. We're just friends. >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, what How did Well, let me ask you this. How did everything start tonight? Like >> Uh she just said she had to run to the store. >> Okay. >> And I said that's fine. And I just fell asleep. >> Okay. So, she said she had to run to the store. What time was that? >> Um >> Okay. Was it It's a whole lot easier to ask you questions like this than what was it? An hour ago, 2 hours ago, 3 I mean, kind of help me out. >> Um I'm not sure if you guys already said. >> Okay. Well, obviously, you were asleep right now, right? >> Uh no. >> Okay. Okay, you just looked like you were asleep. When When was the last time >> have my glasses on. My bad. I wear I glasses. >> When was the last time she came over to check on her? >> Like 10 minutes. About 10 minutes ago. >> Okay. You sure? Cuz the call we we've been out here for over 10 minutes. So, I'm just I'm trying to figure out kind of our our time frame here so I know how long you've had How many times have you come over here to check on her? >> was about two times. >> Two times? >> Yeah, I came over here. >> Okay. Was it still daylight when she asked you to >> No. >> Okay. Okay. Did she tell you where she was going? >> Uh she just said she was going to run to the store real quick or, you know, do something. I'm not sure. >> Okay. Um But you can't give me like a time frame on how long it was since she Wait, she Did she come over and talk to you? Did she call you on the phone? >> She called me. >> Okay. Okay. So, so you could show us where she called you on your phone so that we'll know what time it was then? >> Yeah, yeah. I'm going to look at my phone. >> Okay. Sure. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> All right, Chance. She just said she went to the store and then she asked you to kind of come back and forth for I just want to make sure I got the story straight just so I don't mix anything up. And you said the last time you came over was about how long ago? A few minutes ago? 10 minutes ago? Okay. Cuz I guess So, the security guard supposedly found around the corner just wrapped up in a blanket. So, that's why we came out here cuz and again that was about 10 minutes ago, 15 minutes ago now probably. Yes no? I'm sorry. >> Yes, sir. >> In a desperate attempt to cover up for her friend, Sewell claimed she had been watching the children, but officers quickly began noticing inconsistencies in her story. The more she spoke, the more it became clear that something wasn't adding up prompting investigators to continue pressing her for the truth. >> Just tell me what's going on. You You got to tell me what's going on right now. You know? Okay, so we We kind of know what's going on. It might not be what you want to do, but you know? So, we got to figure out what's going on here. So, go ahead and just be honest with me, please. >> Never did I tell you never what to do with her. I'm nervous. >> No, I understand. A lot of people get nervous in any sense with the police. So, I completely understand. >> Um she did ask me >> Mhm. >> Um I know I did those off the little doors in the morning. >> Mhm. >> Or something like that, but um Um She asked me and we got to go back and forth. I would >> For how long? >> She had went to the store, but she had went somewhere. And >> Did she tell you exactly where she was going by chance? You know what store that she was going to? >> No, sir. Not that I know of. >> Okay, she just said I have to go to the store. >> Yeah, she was like I have to go somewhere. I don't go nowhere. >> Mhm. >> So, don't know how long it's been to be honest. Kind of don't know. To be honest. >> Okay. Do you remember Can you show me what time she called you by chance? Can I see that? What time she called you to ask if she can see the >> I just talked to you. Okay, so she just called me. She was like, "Hey, um I don't know what's going on. Don't know what's going on because last time I talked to her it was around 3:30 p.m. >> Oh, okay. >> And um she went about 10. I don't want her to get in trouble. >> No, and I understand that. You guys are friends. I understand that. >> Usually I do. I don't know why she didn't call me earlier cuz I didn't have no problem with that. >> Okay. Yeah, cuz you've done it before. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, she literally called you and said the police are at my house. I need you to go over there and cover for me pretty much. >> Yeah, cuz >> There's no no need to cry. There is no need to cry right now. There's no need to be upset. There's no Hey, look look at me. There's no need to be upset cuz my my biggest thing is to figure out what's going on with that, you know? >> Mhm. >> And I'm not trying to, you know, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. It's We just need the truth. >> Yes, sir. >> Cuz this is a pretty big deal. >> Yes, sir. >> You know? So, I appreciate the truth. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. So, but I am going to talk to somebody just real quick, all right? >> After questioning Sewell, Shayla eventually arrived at the scene approximately 90 minutes later, seemingly prepared to repeat the same version of events she had earlier shared with her friend. However, she was unaware that inconsistencies had already begun to surface, and instead of clearing things up, her dishonesty only deepened the situation and made matters significantly worse for her. >> Hey. >> I'm here. >> How you doing? Obviously, I guess you've had some phone calls, so you know why we're here. Okay. Um, can you tell me what What I'll just throw it out there. Can you tell us why we're here? >> See, that's what I'm trying to figure out because when I left, my brother was here, and my best friend stays over in apartment three, so she when he leaves, she watch um, she said that she was running over to her house to take a shower, and then that's what I got the call from my other neighbor >> Okay. >> upstairs that >> Okay. >> So, then I called my best friend. I was like, "Oh my gosh." I was like, "I just got a call that the police was banging on my neighbor's door." So, it kind of scared me, so >> Oh, no, I believe you believe you. It scared us, too. What time was it that you left? >> Um, I left here about 10:30. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Um, if you want to talk to her over there, I won't I'll keep talking to her, so Okay. And you said that when when you left >> My brother was here. My brother Mateo. >> Okay. Does he live here or >> He just come >> Okay. Okay. If he's over here >> Cuz he was leaving. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. And when he leaves, then she covers for me. >> Huh. Okay. Did Did you ask her to cover when Mateo left or did Mateo ask her to cover? >> I asked her. We uh figured all this out earlier. He was We was going out to Chihuahua. Me and my boyfriend were. >> Okay. >> my brother was going to cover for a bit. He said he had other plans, so I told him, "Okay. That was fine." And he ended up leaving, so I, you know what I'm saying, got in touch with my best friend and told her that Mateo was leaving. So she comes over and said, you know what I'm saying, we got to communicate communication. I'm going to take a shower and do all the couple things. And I said, "Okay." And then maybe not even like 10, 20 minutes after that, my next-door neighbor upstairs, Ebony, had called me and I was calling her back and she was letting me know that you >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> Excuse me. You guys were here and then what was going on? >> So it was about 10:30 when you when you left and you you talked to to your friend then to let her know >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Realizing she wasn't going to abandon her lie easily, the officers continued to press her for the truth. After a brief hesitation, it became clear to her that there was no way around it. She would have to come clean. >> Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us? >> Yes. >> Okay. Tell me the truth. >> Okay. So, our brother left from over here. And I was supposed to be going to make a quick run over to the vibe. And I ended up leaving from over here because not too long after my brother had left from over here. >> Do you know what time he left? >> Not by heart. >> Not by heart? Can you give me a rough estimation? >> Um between 10:30 and 11:30, around there. >> Okay. And then you went to the vibe with >> Yes, my boyfriend. I met up with him over at the vibe. >> You met up with him over there? >> Yes. >> So, nobody was here watching the kids from about 11:30 until we got here probably at time we get here 1:00 1:00 a.m.-ish? >> Probably a little bit after 1:00. Yes. >> Okay. So, anybody? >> Um usually because I can call my best friend and she's just a quick call and my neighbor Megan right here. Everybody's a quick call. It was really supposed to be a quick run and it extended a little more than what it was supposed to be. >> Okay. So, will you do me a favor? You going to turn around and put your hands behind your back, please? Go and put your hands behind your back, please. I am going to take this phone real quick. >> Um am I allowed to stay here till my mom comes to get me? >> No, you can't. You see SP is on their way now. >> Okay. Can I call my mom? >> You can do that when we get when you get to booking. >> Okay. >> Cool. Can you turn around and face that way for me? All right. Do you have anything in your pockets that can poke, stick, prick me, get you in trouble at all? >> No. >> All right. We're going to hop in this car right here in the back, all right? >> Okay. >> Watch your head getting in, all right? Thank you. There was no way the officers were going to let her go scot-free. She had mistreated her kids and even thought she could lie her way out of the consequences of her actions. Eventually, Shiloh was taken to jail where she was charged with neglect without great bodily harm.