A Texas mother was arrested in Florida after authorities alleged that she left her 6-year-old son alone at a public park for roughly an hour while she went to get food with a friend.
Elena Sexton, 41, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was taken into custody in Sunny Isles Beach on Aug. 15 and charged with felony child neglect, according to police records and an arrest affidavit.
Boy Told Police He Was Scared and Hungry
According to the arrest affidavit, officers responding to the situation found Sexton’s young son alone at the park. The boy reportedly told police that he was frightened and had not eaten since breakfast.
The child also said he did not want to leave the area with a stranger. He reportedly explained that his mother had gone to get food with a friend.
Authorities became involved after the child was left without an adult caregiver in the public park.
Mother Says She Planned a Quick Trip to Her Car
Sexton reportedly gave police a different account of how the situation unfolded. She said she had gone to a nearby shopping plaza because she intended to retrieve toys from her vehicle.
According to her statement to investigators, she unexpectedly encountered a friend while there. The friend invited her to get something to eat, and Sexton said she accepted the invitation.
The circumstances surrounding how long the child remained alone became part of the investigation.
Child Welfare Officials Notified as Case Continues
Following Sexton’s arrest, the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified. It remained unclear from the available records who had custody of the child after the incident.
Sexton was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and was given a $2,500 bond. On Aug. 17, she pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
The felony child neglect case remains ongoing, and the allegations against Sexton have not been proven in court.
