Parents allegedly left napping baby unattended during walk on Florida beach
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MIRAMAR BEACH, Florida (TMX) — Two parents from Texas were arrested in Florida Friday for allegedly leaving their six-month-old child alone under a beach tent for nearly an hour while walking with their other children, authorities said.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called around noon on Friday to 4000 Sandestin Boulevard in Miramar Beach after witnesses reported an unattended infant on the beach. Bystanders said the baby had been left alone beneath a tent for nearly an hour while the parents walked down the beach with three other children. Concerned beachgoers stepped in to care for the child and called law enforcement.
Deputies arrived to find the child safe and being comforted by good Samaritans. South Walton Fire District personnel were called to assess the infant’s condition, and the child’s vital signs were found to be normal.
The parents, identified as Brian Wilks, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37, of Houston, returned to the area while deputies were on scene. They admitted putting the baby down for a nap under the tent before leaving, and said they had lost track of time. Investigators later reviewed nearby security footage confirming the couple had been gone for nearly an hour and had not taken a cellphone with them.
Both parents were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. The Florida Department of Children and Families responded to the scene and took custody of the children pending the arrival of relatives from Texas. The Wilkses were booked into the Walton County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond each.
The sheriff’s office said that the case underscores how even short lapses in supervision can pose serious risks, especially in Florida’s heat and coastal conditions.
“We’re thankful for the quick-thinking beachgoer who raised the alarm and for those who stepped in to care for the child with the same kindness and concern they would show their own,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson.