On February 26th, 2025 in Palm Beach County, neighbors spotted a young child wandering alone in the street. Once police arrived and made sure the child was safe, they tracked down the home and what they found raised serious concerns about the mother's condition. >> Good afternoon. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Where'd you find this handsome young man? >> This tree. >> Okay. >> What's your name? Yeah. We don't want to blame that. That's bad, too. That's not much funny. >> Here. Somebody here. >> What's your name? >> Yes. >> It's a flashlight. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You can play with the flashlight. >> Maybe driving around below the house. >> No, you can. We ask for the hair. >> Could you talk to him in Spanish? Cuz my Spanish >> in Spanish. No, he speak English. >> He speaks English. He said because when I'm when I'm in the phone he say mom mom and then in he speak English >> he acts like he's um a little autistic. >> Yeah I think >> that's okay. >> Stop stealing my stuff. >> Don't steal the stuff. >> Nobody got to get your driver's license first. Not up on the X. You know where to >> go for a ride? >> Yes. >> You do? >> Where you want to go? >> Lost kid. >> Lost kid. >> Nobody recognizing >> what I have to do. And you never saw this kid before? >> No. Somebody give it to me. >> Say so. Somebody flagged you down to >> Yeah, because the kid is in the street and somebody I'm I'm coming from the war. I'm parking and somebody say, "Do you know that kid?" And I say, "No, because you alone in the street and nobody know." And everybody start to come and when I say but I call the police the the one lady I hold him and no no no. Okay, I give it to you. You call the police >> and I >> Well, thank you very much for calling. >> Yeah, because that's the best. >> We Nobody know what you going to do. Call the police. >> That it. >> Yeah, that's the best we can do. >> Yeah, right. >> Figure out where he lives cuz he didn't have a wallet on. >> No, nobody turned it off. >> You trying to steal my car again? >> Where? >> Yeah. Did you give him those shorts? >> Are those on them or did you give me? >> No, ma'am. You've done your Thank you very much. That was very kind of you. >> Thank you. >> In the diaper. He's a little bit sore. Come on. >> Let's go. >> Let's go. Go. Let's go. Let's go home. Y [Music] poopy. >> Yeah. Sick boy. >> Excellent. Sick boy. Okay. >> What address is this? >> Is that your mom? Is that mom? [Music] >> Is that your mom? >> Is that your mom? Is that mommy? Is that mommy? Yes. >> No. Let's go. You ready to get under? >> Yeah. [Music] >> Come here. >> You're not in trouble, buddy. [Music] >> Yeah. So, how did little Houdini get out of the house? >> Don't know. Not sure. >> No, he just he has he he just opened the door. That's it. But he's never been outside by himself. >> He's never been unoccupied. Like >> he's never done this before. >> No. All right. you uh might want to consider getting some childproof locks inside. >> I'm going to go on Amazon. I by today I'm going to go on Amazon. >> What's your name again? >> And you're the mom? >> Yes. >> Okay. Anybody else in the house? >> No. >> Do you have anybody else that can come to the house? >> We I have my mother comes to the house all the time. He has his father. >> Where's the father? working right now. >> Does he live here, too? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. What are you under the influence of? >> Nothing. >> Nothing? >> No. >> But, >> uh, listen, I've been doing this for a couple of, uh, years, and you're definitely under the influence of something. I'm not 100% sure what, but it's more than obvious. What happened to your leg? What? What? Who's watching him right now? If Melanie's inside. >> No, he literally just went inside right now. He's with me. He's okay. >> Fine. Okay. Do you take any medication? >> No. >> Well, do you have any diagnosis? >> No. >> No. Have a seat here. We're going to >> I would rather >> Yeah. Well, I I would rather for you to sit here now. Thank you. >> I would rather be in >> That's okay. That's fine. Have a seat. Thank you. >> Last name of it. Stand with him. We can leave the door open. >> Sierra India Romeo Romeo Alpha. >> I don't think you'll understand middle of Delilah. >> Have a seat. >> She's a white female 42 of 93. >> It's okay, baby. Where is he? It's okay. It's okay. >> Just that one. >> Mommy's out here. Mommy's out here. >> Um, do you have a cell phone? Yes. >> Can you contact somebody that is in a better condition than you. >> Yeah. >> No, leave the door open. >> Yeah. >> So, >> yes. >> Your child is wandering around the street. >> You don't know where he is. You don't know how long he's been gone. >> He wasn't gone very long because >> But you don't know how long he's been gone. >> He wasn't gone very long because what? Was he gone 5 minutes? Was he gone an hour and a half? >> No, he was not gone an hour and a half. >> And how do you know? >> Because the last time I made a phone call was at 2:55. >> Okay. >> And >> it's longer than that now. >> But prior to that, >> almost an hour exactly. >> But prior to that, >> I did go on the phone. So he wasn't gone longer than that. >> And he was down the street. >> Does your ring doorbell work? It's dead at the moment. >> How long have you lived in Palm Beach County? I mean ballpark >> over 15 years. >> 15 years. How long have you lived here in this >> apartment? >> Maybe four or five >> months. Years. >> Years. >> Years. Okay. And in that time, how many times has your kid gone running off? >> Never. >> No. He's three years old. >> He's four. >> Four. >> Yeah. He's never gone running off. We've been here for over four years. Our landlord used to live across the street. He passed away due to CO. >> Okay. We need to know what kind of drugs you took today. >> I didn't take any drugs today drugs. >> What did you do? Because you're not very lucid. >> I'm very slow. >> No, I'm very slow because I want to make sure that whatever is going on like >> I'm telling you based on my training experience, 21 years in law enforcement, you're high. I'm not. >> You fell and you're gushing blood out of your leg and you have no idea how you did that. >> I can promise you >> you didn't know your child's missing and you live in about a 600 ft apartment. >> So I need to know what kind of drugs you're on. >> I can promise you I don't do drugs. I've never done drugs. I don't do anything. No. >> No over the counter like sleep medication. >> Nothing. >> I can't do drugs. I don't do drugs. So right now sober is enough. >> So I Yeah, I don't do drugs. I can't do drugs. Like I can contact you. >> There's not like a single thing that >> Is that a storage? >> Yes. >> What about alcohol? >> You can check my storage closet if you please. >> No. No. Sorry. >> Have you had any alcohol today? >> I had a drinking. >> Okay. >> But that's it. >> What did you drink? Was it beer? Was it What? Was it just a drink? And then a >> like was it What kind of alcohol was it? Beer. >> What flavor? >> What was it? You're very funny and I don't like you. I'm just going to pick that up. >> That's okay. >> You're not alone. >> No, I know I'm not alone. Um Yeah. No, he's never gone out of the house. He's never done anything like this. So, this is like a first. >> What about what you have drank? We're trying to figure out why you are so you appear to be intoxicated. Okay. You just um avoided answering a simple question about what you have drank. >> Well, >> you avoided it. Okay. >> Any logical person would just say you either avoided it or you intent unintentionally avoided it because you got something wrong with you. The way you're ping on me is very >> well because here's >> very aggressive. So So what I'll tell you. >> Yes, >> we're police. >> I know. I understand that. >> So what the kids want? >> I'm a very good friend of mine. I have very good friends in the department. >> Just just give you a little perspective, right? Our job is to investigate crimes. >> Yes. And if we got a four-year-old running around with dirty diapers who can't tell us where he lives or who mom is or anything else because he's really essentially non-verbal, that's a potential crime. So, we're investigating a crime. That's why we're asking you questions because it could have been something simple like, "Yeah, he just snuck out when you weren't looking." >> Well, no, he did. >> Or because >> because of your your drinking? >> No. >> You rendered yourself incapable of taking good care of him and he snuck out. >> Well, no. I promise you there's never been a time where I've had something to like indulge where he snuck out. >> Okay. >> But yes, he did today and I'm horribly unfortunately like >> Do you remember when you had a drink? Was it home? Was it like did you go out? >> Okay. >> Did not go out. >> So it was here. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And it was one drink. Do you remember what it was or you just don't want to tell us? >> No, I remember what it was, but I feel very pressured. >> Well, we're we're pressured as well. We're pressured as well. So, >> you know, you're extremely >> Yes, I do remember. However, >> so >> he's never done this before. So, okay. >> So, what what could we do to make you feel more comfortable to answer these questions? >> Well, >> cuz we get excited about little kids. That's all. >> No, I know. And I get that. I 100% like I'm a mama bear, so I'm like overly like getting into things. >> You could start by stop being so aggressive. >> You're not going to tell me what to do first of all. Okay. >> You don't have to stand up. Just put your hands behind your back. >> Okay. >> Well, no. >> Yep. Yeah, you will. stand up. >> Okay. We'll see. >> We'll see. We'll see how that works. >> See why I want to be nice. >> We tried to be very nice and try to figure out your situation. >> All right. You take this sweater off. You're not It's not very >> All right. A nice outfit. >> Can we get you some shorts? Like actual shorts? >> I can go grab some. >> No, you're not. >> Okay. Well, see, this is not necessary. >> And my friend's not here. You cannot put us at ease that you are able to take care of your child and it's committed by your actions and what happened today that you are not able to take care of your child. Do you understand that? >> No, I am but >> you are not. Yeah. So the technical term is allay our fears. >> We tried talking to you but we were aggressive. You avoided our question. >> No, it's not that aggressive. It's you were being very very mean. No, I just want to make sure your son is taken care of. And I wish you had that his interest in your >> And I do. I do have his best. >> Where would her pants? >> Have a seat. I don't want you falling down again. Okay. >> This is crazy. >> You are not in the right state to take care of a child. >> I am. >> That's why we were here today. We tried to have you put our fears at ease. You cannot You cannot explain yourself. Are you >> I can explain myself. you chose not to listen to me. And I said he was fine. This was a one time off. However, you came very aggressive, so I didn't feel at ease. >> Okay, understandable. Did you thank my deputies for locating your child? Did you thank anybody? That's something a normal mother who wasn't impaired would do. Okay. >> What's going on? What's the history here? >> Oh, I know. I know. She only drinks. >> She drinks. Okay. >> I know it's not drugs. >> So, long story short, >> child's found wandering the street over there, dirty diaper, obviously afraid, nonverbal, you know, obviously special needs of some sort. U we come in contact with that, go knocking door to door. The deputies do a great job by finding the mom, but she's upon first contact obviously something's wrong. She's either intoxicated, she's fallen, she's bleeding on her left leg. She doesn't know how she's fallen. So, these are things that have us very um you know, nervous about leaving a child with her. So, with what's happened here with the with the kid being gone and not even knowing and the state that he's in, it's it's a crime. Okay. So, she's going to go to jail. Um we obviously are concerned about the care of the child, >> not who we can leave this child with. Have you guys ever taken care of this kid before? >> My wife watches him all the time. >> Okay. >> Does she watch him here or at your house? >> Here. She's came he's came to our house before. Is >> he able to come here? >> I can stay here with him until she gets here. Um >> I know that he's never like >> seems like >> I don't know how he got out. I don't He's never got out before. >> The dead locked. When you guys knocked on the door, was it open? >> I wasn't here. >> Okay. officer. >> You can check the ring cam maybe. See like >> dead. >> Oh, is it? >> Camera's dead. We tried to check it. Asked her about it. >> Yeah. I don't know what happened here, but she does drink, but that's unlike her. >> Does she drink like a lot or just occasionally? >> Unless she's been arguing with her her husband and uh >> because of the drinking. >> Well, he's the one with the drinking problem. >> So, it's like >> Oh, they both Yeah. Yeah. But he drinks more is what I'm saying. Okay. >> I don't drink at all, so I don't understand how you do it. >> Yeah. You save a lot of money. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. You okay with surfing a bit? >> Yeah, of course. >> So, the lady's down the street changed his diaper, cleaned him up, gave him a pair of shorts, some socks. >> Yeah. >> So, I don't know when the last time he ate. >> He's got like I don't know, maybe like autism or something. >> She's with him 24/7. You know, she doesn't she doesn't work right now, so she stays with the kid. Her husband works. All right. Well, I appreciate the the backstory on this because >> she doesn't like me. >> Yeah. >> Hasn't announced as much either. >> Yeah. She may not seem like it right now, but she's really good girl. You know, she's always uh >> her and my wife were bartenders back in 10 years ago when I met her folk, but good people. I don't know why the hell she's drinking like this, but >> All right. >> Yeah, of course. I'll stay with them. >> All right. Can we get you some uh flip flops or something? >> Wow. You don't want any shoes? >> Yeah, >> both. >> I'm going to sit here with the kid. >> Um, I'm going to I'm going to take your jewelry off now because otherwise they'll take it at the jail. >> Okay. >> So, he said to us that you have a drinking problem. >> So, hopefully, you know, this is a wakeup call and your son's okay and you can get some help for that. Okay. This could have ended bad. Yeah. He could have got hit by a car. He could have gone missing in one of these waterways. Is he autistic? >> No. >> What What's his uh condition? Is he just special needs? >> I just have to take the jail. >> All right. Welcome. Me, please. >> All right. You better, ma'am. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm afraid we got to go in the old the old car. >> The old guy. Old car. Watch your head. So, listen. If it's I know it's uncomfortable with your hands behind your back like that, but that's our policy. I can't really much >> it. It's You're fine. >> So, if it's more comfortable to kind of turn a little bit so you're not putting pressure on your wrists. You sure? >> You're fine. You're fine. You're fine. >> And also, the AC back here is terrible. >> It's okay. >> So, if you start getting hot, please tell me. I'll crack the windows for you. [Music] The mother was charged with child neglect after her child was found alone in the street. If convicted, she faces up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.