I need help with this child, but I'm a single parent of five. >> Drops him off just for a little while and then comes back and gets him. He's got a feeling she's not coming back tonight. >> When she told me to get out, get out the car. >> When he get mad, he tries to break and destroy my belongings. He has a long history of running away. >> He starts acting up. He starts smumbling up on this rough talking about my mother. >> Does he do this a lot? >> Yes. On October 14th, 2024, police in Port Charlotte, Florida, received a frantic call from an 11-year-old boy claiming his mother had abandoned him at a gas station. >> 911. What's the address of your emergency? >> Um, where we at? >> You're at racetrack on Sand Hill. >> Okay. What's the phone number you're calling from in case we get disconnected? >> Cuz my mom, she dropped me off here because I had put my feet on her charger. >> Okay. Your mother dropped you off there. Mhm. She does. >> So, how exactly can I help you? >> Can I get a police on here? >> Okay. And how old are you? >> I'm 11. >> Okay. Just give me one second here. Are you there with the workers right now? >> Mhm. >> All right. If you just want to wait there with the workers, we're going to have the deputies on the way over there to meet with you. Okay. >> Mhm. >> Officers raced to the gas station where they met 35-year-old Nasha Felix, a mother of five who didn't think she did anything wrong. I'm Jack and this is Unpopular. ADHD and OD. >> Okay. >> He's mad because he had to get picked up from his aunt's house and go home. Okay. >> We live in Bradon and we're coming from Fort Myers. So, he's the whole time he's been kicking and acting a fool in the back seat. So, I pull over and he jumps out. >> Okay. >> So, I seen a lady talk to him and take him in the store, but I just sat here to watch and see what was going to happen. >> Okay. >> I need help with this child. And I keep telling people this, but I'm a single parent of five. >> Mhm. >> It's only so much I could do. His dad is locked up and he does not want to listen to me. >> Okay. >> So, I don't know what else to do but teach him a lesson. >> Okay. And did you ever leave at any point? >> No, I was right over here in the other parking lot watching. >> Were y'all getting gas or you went in to get something or >> No. >> Okay. We all getting pulled over to see what was the issue. >> Oh, why? He was kicking and screaming. >> Okay. And then he just jumped out and took off. >> He just jumped off >> and he he came here. >> We were over here. So wouldn't nobody like be in our business and I was trying to calm down and talk to him >> and he just jumped out and he started walking this way. So I tried to follow him >> and then he I just went over there and let him calm down. >> Inside the gas station, police spoke with the store manager who filled them in on Nasha's interesting parenting techniques. >> Says she chilling. >> She says she does this whenever she gets mad at him. There's five kids total >> and uh he's the one that she dropped off today. She's done it before just at convenience stores or Walmart. Drops them off just for a little while and then comes back and gets them. She's such he's got a feeling she's not coming back tonight cuz she was really mad. >> So you already talked to mom and you want to talk to >> I do know mom was here. >> So you said she's done this before. >> How many times? >> Three or four times. >> Three or four times. When was the last time? >> Last week. >> It was last week she did this. >> Okay. Was anyone else were your siblings with you or was it just you? >> Me? Is this you? >> Why do you think she does this? >> You don't know. Is she mad at you? Why is she mad at you? >> Because I stepped on her charger. >> You stepped on her charger >> and she threw you here. >> Okay. Did she say anything to you like when she pulled in the parking lot? Did she say anything when you got out of the car? No. >> And did she know where you were going? >> And where did you go? First when she dropped me off, I had went over there. Not sure went inside. >> Yeah. >> And I was going to back then I went back outside. Then I went as truck driver I was and he said, "Yeah, I went in there and called the police." I went in and called the police. >> So you went in here to use the bathroom and did she already leave >> and then you went back outside and she was gone? >> Do you know where she went? >> Did she say she was coming back? Okay. >> What happened in the car that made her pull over here? >> I stepped on a charger. >> You stepped on her phone charger. >> Phone charger. You stepped on a car. The car charger charger. >> Phone charger. >> In the car, though. >> Okay. >> Were you >> Where were you when that happened? >> I was inside the car, >> right? But like driving down the road or something. >> You're on the highway. >> Okay. And were you kicking and screaming at all? I mean, it's okay. It's not You're not going to get in trouble if you were kicking and screaming. You could You're allowed to do that. You weren't? >> Okay. You weren't throwing a tantrum or anything. >> So, how did you end up stepping on it while you were driving down the road? >> It's okay. >> I was looking at the window and then I actually got stepped on it. She put her head on my feet and I didn't know who feet was. I was laying on my feet. >> Okay. So, was sitting here in the driver's seat. Were you sitting back here? >> Okay. And the charger was down by your feet. And did it unplug the phone? >> No. She just didn't like that your foot was on it. And so she got off the highway and came and parked here. >> Did she need anything? Did she say she needed gas or a snack? Nothing. >> She didn't say get out of the car or anything. You just got out on your own? >> No. Uh on the highway, she told me to get out get out the car. >> On the highway, she told you to get out the car. >> Okay. But then when she got over here and parked on the road, what happens? Did she say anything? >> No. >> She didn't say anything. She just parked there. >> And And you got out to come use the bathroom. Did she know that? Yeah. >> She didn't know you were getting out. >> She didn't know I was getting out. >> Okay. Cuz she told you to get out. >> Okay. >> She told you to get out while you were on the highway. >> She told me you have to get out my f car. >> Okay. And then you just got out. >> Okay. >> Armed with new information, our officers went back outside to see if Nasha would stick to the same story. >> Would you mind providing a swarm recorded statement about what happened here today? >> Sure. I have two kids in the car that witness everything. >> Okay. >> How How old are they? >> Um, his twin is 11, same age as him, >> and a 9-year-old in the car. >> Okay. Ma'am, are you under the influence of any or alcohol? >> No. >> All right. Do you understand the meaning of perjury? >> Yes. >> And what does perjury mean to you? >> It's lying under oath. >> Lying under oath. Lying, omitting, leaving stuff out on purpose. That's a crime in the state of Florida. Do you understand that? All right. Prior to taking this for saving, I'm going to place you on oath. Can you raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm the statement you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. >> All right. You can put your hand down. All right. Can you tell me what happened tonight between you? >> Okay. So, we don't have power in Bradon. >> Yeah. >> So, we went to Fort Myers so we could have water, lights, and have hot food, >> of course. >> So, I took them to their aunt's house and I went to my sister's house. And when I picked him up this morning, >> he didn't want to leave. >> And seen his um his dad, grandma, >> and then he started showing out over there. He sat on the curb said that he didn't want to get in the car, so I made him a car. >> Okay. >> The whole time he just had an attitude. I've been doing Ubering to where we can get something to eat >> because my funds are low. >> Yeah. >> And um when I took in got on 75, we used the bathroom. Everybody got cups of ice. He got mad at the fact that I didn't let him get a cup of ice cuz he wets the bed. Now mind you, they've been drinking water all day >> because I took it to the park. So they need to hydrate yourself. >> So when we get over there, he didn't want to take and um he got mad. He stood behind the little post with an attitude and didn't want to take and get in the car. >> Yeah. >> So, I made him have to get in the car again. >> And is he on medication? >> Yes, he's taking >> didn't take it today. >> Okay. >> Because he wasn't with me that morning and I don't let him take it after 12. Yeah. >> Because otherwise he'd be up all day. >> Okay. >> So, we get in the car. We're on our way to Bradton and he's taking and just showing out in the back seat moving and kicking stuff as he usually does when he get mad. He tries to break and destroy my belongings. Okay. >> So, I pulled over to try to get him to calm down and see what was going on. >> Where did you pull over at? >> I pulled over over here on the side of the racetrack. >> Yes. I'm talking to him, talking to him, talking to him. He just jumps out like he didn't want have to hear whatever I had to say. Like I was just totally in the room and telling him he didn't need anything to drink. >> It's already after hours and I didn't want him to pee. >> Yeah. >> I let him cool off. He walked this way and I went around that way and came up and sat over there and then I moved over here. When this car pulled up, I was sitting at the gas pump. >> I wasn't that far. I seen everything. >> Yeah. >> So, I don't understand why he doesn't want to go home or why he has attitude. I don't understand that. He just has to vibe by the rules. >> Did you ever tell him to get out of the car? >> No. >> Okay. Does he know why you were mad at him? >> I wasn't mad. I didn't talk to him. >> Okay. >> Why Why would he think that you were mad at him? >> He always thinks that, but he don't understand when he has an attitude and he has to calm down. He has to do that. Yeah, >> I have other kids that don't need to be around that because he gets mad and try to take his anger out on everybody. >> Yeah. >> And that's not cool. >> I'm not accusing you of anything, but why did you leave him here? >> Just to let him cool off. >> To let him cool off. And how long were you planning on letting him cool off for? >> Uh, it was not even 10, 15 minutes. >> Okay. >> Before I double back. >> Where did you see him go to, walk to, all that stuff? >> I seen the lady talking to him once he walked back down this way and stood over there at the corner where he got out the car at. >> I seen the lady talking to him and she took him inside. So, I already know what was going to happen next. >> Okay. And uh why didn't you try to go inside and get them? >> I don't know. I'm tired. >> You see my feet are swelling. >> Yep. >> All I've done is tried to provide for these children. That's tr stressful. You got five five kids. >> It is. And I don't have any help. >> Yeah. >> That's what me moving to Bradon. And I haven't been up there a whole month yet. Moving to Bradon thinking I could, you know, find something better to help them and myself. But it's only been drama and problems since day one. I'm just sick of it. >> Have you reached out for help? >> I have. Um, if you look under Lee County, because that's where we're from, he has a long history of running away. >> Yeah. >> And just doing whatever he wants to do. And I call the police every time. >> Okay. And they normally they bring him home. >> They bring him right home >> or they bake him. >> Has DCF come to talk to you guys? >> Yeah. And what? >> They put him in therapy. The Camlock program, nothing works. And right now he's in therapy in school. >> Yeah. try to get him to open up to try to figure out what's wrong with what's causing the outbreaks and stuff like that, >> but nothing is helping. >> Uh he said he he thought you were mad at him because he stepped on a phone charger or something. >> No, he was back there kicking my seat. >> Yeah. >> And I've asked him not to do that. >> Yeah. >> But I'm driving and that's what he's doing back there just now. >> Okay. >> And his brother was back there. He seen all of it. >> Okay. The other 11year-old? >> Yeah, that's his twin. >> Okay. Somebody's lying and it's either an 11-year-old boy or a grown woman who doesn't want to go to jail. To find the truth, our officers decided to interview Nashquita's other children who were in the back seat and witnessed the whole thing. >> Can you all tell me what happened in the car with your brother and your mom? It's okay. You You want to go? You want to walk somewhere else? Okay. What happened? >> Um >> your brother's not in trouble. >> Oh yeah. Um so so when when my when my sister had came to come uh she came upstairs came in the room and got me and and I was and I was actually trying to stay my brother just got up and left right. So so my cousin boyfriend is and tell telling him to grab his shoes cuz he don't want to forget. So the boyfriend comes downstairs give give me shoes. So, and so then I put him right back I put him right back in the trunk and then and then uh my brother he's he's just sitting like the third the the second story. >> Is he is he behaving? >> No, >> he don't behave. >> All right. So, what happens when you guys get in the car and start driving down here? >> He he start he starts acting up. He starts smuggling up on this rough talking about my mother. >> He he he he don't he don't like listening to her. >> Yeah, >> basically. And then >> he mostly like uh Trey. >> Yeah. He he like likes my auntie more better. >> Okay. >> And then when we go to the gas station race track our Okay. So we we we going inside the store. We went to go use the bathroom, but the girl's bathroom was she cuz she cuz she couldn't use it cuz the oysters was cleaning up, right? Okay. >> And then we we go we go to the ice area. My brother my brother can't get nothing cuz it's peeing. >> Yeah. >> And then >> that all happened here. >> Yeah. No. >> Where was that? >> Fort Myers. >> Fort Myers. Okay. >> Yeah. And then then we was driving down here. I I was asleep. I I don't know what happened, but >> No way. He got mad because he could have killed a couple. >> Oh, yeah. He He did get mad. And then And then while we was driving our way here, I I'll wake up talking. I I'm asking him what what happened. He won't tell me. Tell him while he What happened? >> I forgot. >> Wait. >> So y'all y'all came you got off the highway and Did you know you were coming here? >> No. >> No, you didn't know. >> Yeah, you were sleeping. >> Yeah, I was sleeping. >> Oh, you were sleeping. >> Okay. I was sleeping. So, what happened when you got here? >> Uh, my my mother was trying to talk to him and he he he just opened the door. He was he unlocked the door and then got out and then that that's when my mother had to Popeye's >> Mhm. >> and sat there for a little bit and then and then that's that that's when that happened. >> Did y'all know where he was? >> No. >> Did Were you able to see him at all? >> Uh-uh. >> Yeah. Did you know that he was still even in here? >> Mm-m. >> Okay. How long was he in here? How long did you not see him? >> About like 20 minutes. >> Like 20 minutes. >> Yeah. >> One way two hours. >> Two hours. Okay. >> Yeah. Cuz cuz when our mother pulled up, >> we we didn't see him cuz cuz >> our mother had pulled up and then and then she was looking for him and then we would have found him. So my mother backed up and then that that's that's when >> Okay. So you weren't sure where he was? >> Uhuh. >> Okay. Does he do this? Does he do this a lot? >> Yes. >> Okay. Does your mom a bad boy? Does your mom normally go look for him? >> She does. >> Okay. Has mom done this to you? >> No. >> Y'all have y'all never done this? >> No. Cuz cuz we don't be bad like that. >> Okay. I I [laughter] I get I give >> So y'all never jump out the car and leave so he does though. >> Okay. So he's done this before, right? Does she go look for him? >> Yeah. >> Do you Did mom go looking for him this time? >> Yes. >> You think? Was she worried? >> Where what was she saying? >> She she was she she was saying where where where he at? And then and then that that she had pulled around around the back back door and looking and we started looking for him. My my mother my mother said where what where y'all see y'all see y'all see y'all brother? And we and we said no because cuz we we couldn't see him in the back and then we and then we pulled around to the front and and we didn't see him. >> Were you worried about him? >> No. Not really >> a little bit cuz we didn't know where he was. >> Yeah. >> Okay. While her kids seemingly backed up her story, the CCTV footage proved that she left her son alone and unsupervised at the gas station for at least 20 minutes. She eventually came back, but at no point did she go inside to make sure her son was okay. >> Yeah. This is her at 10 9:10. She pulls in the parking lot. >> So, it's facing 7-Eleven. >> Yeah. Okay. He gets out. She don't even bark all the way. >> No. So, right here, she pulls in. She barely backs up into the parking spot, >> stops, lets him out, >> takes off, >> and then leaves. >> Takes her right. Now, can we see the other side of the building? >> So, what time was that? That was at 10:50 something. So, this is the back road. So, if we look >> Yeah, she comes anywhere in that vicinity. >> We might be able to see her. >> Oh, absolutely. >> At least if we see a car, it could be her. >> Yes, it's something. >> Yeah. So, we'll wait. >> And it don't take that long, then. >> No. I mean, she could have drove all the way around Sand Hill, but no, she she definitely didn't come this way. >> So, she had no eyes on it. >> We can skip a little bit if you want to. >> She says she sat there for a minute and then realized she couldn't see him and then moved. >> So, this is at 9:30 and she comes from that way. So, she couldn't have >> seen him. >> She couldn't have sat on the side of Sandill right here for >> No, unless she pulled on the other side where she had no eyes on him. >> When she dropped you off out here, did you see where she went to? No. So when you were walking down the sidewalk and it walked around that fuel truck that was in the parking lot. >> Okay. I see her anywhere over there. >> No. >> Well, you see her pull from like >> Yeah. Right there out of Popeye's at 9:30. >> And then she parks around the building at 9:30. >> She parks and backs up immediately and leaves. >> So she's not watching it. She has no eyes on her. >> No, she's not even worried. What? >> She doesn't care. Does she ever park at a pump? She said she parked at a pump. >> Um, yeah. So, she comes in and I don't know if we had her parked at the pump. Which one? >> Did she ever come in here and ask about him? >> No. >> So, she comes in right about here. >> At 9:30. >> 9:30 >> when she came back and whatever she was doing >> just sitting and there's Ray. >> And that's when she that's when she realizes that he brought it off. >> Doesn't get out of the car. I found the office review and >> didn't call anybody. >> Say no one called the store. She never came inside. >> She didn't do anything. >> She can't even see him. >> No. So you were on the side for a while before she even moved over to park on the other side of the building. >> She can't see if he's even in here. >> He's sitting here. She can't see. >> So she has no idea if he's even in here. >> So 9:35. So she sits there for 5 minutes and then she moves back over. So 9:35. >> She moves over my right here. And then we show up and she gets out. >> She sits there the whole time. >> Yeah. >> Until we get it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And then she comes here at 9:35 and the rest of me showed up. >> We get a family members. >> Yeah. They're on their way >> here. >> Yeah. >> How long? >> Four miles. >> Four miles. I bring them to D3 instead of sitting here car. >> No, I will bring them to D3. >> They're going to take the car, too. >> Oh, they're going to take the car, too. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Um, >> she's good to go. >> Okay. I know it's a tight squeeze. I'm sorry. >> If you want to just hang your feet out, you can if that's more comfortable for you for now. But >> if you need me, I'll I'll roll down the window, okay? So, you can hear me. >> So, I was at work on a normal night. I was standing at the register. A little boy came up and he stood two registers down. So, I asked him if there's anything I can help him with. I mean, not the first time kid comes in alone. He asked me if I had the phone, if I had a phone he could use. So, I let him use the store phone. I asked if he needed to make a call and he said, "Yeah." So, I just handed him the store phone. He made a call. He was on the phone in front of my register. So amongst hearing his conversation, I realized what was going on. >> Who was he talking to? >> Well, he was talking to the sheriff's office. He called 911, but I thought maybe he was on the phone with a family member. I mean, he was talking about dropped him off. >> Yeah. >> And that he needed to be picked up. So, I thought maybe he called like a family member like like someone was supposed to be meeting him here or something. And then he was like, "She got mad at me. I put my phone on the charger and I left." So, I asked him, I said, "Uh, sir, did or leave you here?" And he goes, "Yeah, she got mad at me left." I said, "Are you on the phone with the sheriff's department?" And he goes, "Yeah." I said, "Okay, no problem. That's fine." That's what I was making sure he called them cuz if not, I needed to. So then he finished his phone call and he got off the phone. I asked what you guys said. He told me that they said they would be here soon. So I just grabbed him some snacks and a drink. I put them behind the counter until you guys showed up. But he just dropped them off and left. And it wasn't the first time. And that she does it often when she gets mad. >> Okay. And um I guess we watch all the time frames together. So >> yeah. So he probably I texted my manager that someone had left their child here and the sheriff's were on the way at 9:22. So he probably came in the store about 9:20. >> Did he seem scared, nervous? >> He said he was nervous that he was a little scared and nervous. >> Okay. Does he know where he is or >> he knew like he knew he was not necessarily I don't know about Port Charlotte. He knew he wasn't from the area. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So he didn't he didn't know where like he didn't know his surroundings. >> No. No. He had to ask me like where we were at, what town, the address. >> Okay. And did he have any idea what was? >> No, he had no idea. He said that she just left him. That she he he did not think she was coming back. >> In the end, Nashquita Felix was arrested and charged with child. Officers on the scene allowed the children to go with an aunt who came to pick them up after. Florida DCF's assigned an agent to the case, though it's unclear what happened to Nasha and the kids after this late night trip to the gas station.