WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Two Texas parents are facing child abuse charges after they allegedly left their 6-month-old child in a tent on the beach.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, Oct. 10, deputies responded to the 4000 block of Sandestin Boulevard for a report of an infant left on the beach.
Upon arrival, authorities said the child was left alone for nearly an hour as the parents were walking along the beach with three other children.
According to WCSO, the parents returned to the scene and admitted they had put the child under the tent for a nap and claimed they had lost track of time.
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According to security camera footage obtained during the investigation, it was confirmed that the family had been out for nearly an hour and did not have their cellphones with them.
Parents Brian, 40, and Sarah Wilkes, 37, of Houston, Texas, were arrested and charged with child neglect, although no physical harm was caused.
DCF took custody of the children until a family traveling from Texas arrived. The two were bonded on $1,000 bond Saturday.
