Parents in Florida were arrested after their 2-year-old child was found, wandering a dark road in the middle of the night.
Johnny JeanBaptiste and Stacia McMillian have been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm following the alleged incident, which authorities claim took place on Saturday, September 26, per the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in a statement to Us.
Authorities learned of the incident when a motorist called 911 around 11:30 p.m. to report that they saw a toddler walking alone in the middle of Jones Road near Talisi Loop in St. Cloud, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit viewed by Us. Once the motorist saw the child, they stopped and made sure they were brought to safety.
Police said that the child was not hurt, but they were scared and crying when they were found.
Osceola County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the neighborhood and eventually learned where the child lived with his parents. Authorities discovered the home’s door was wide open, and upon entry found that no one was home. Police confirmed that the child lived at the home after finding photos of them in the residence, as well as toys..
One deputy then called JeanBaptiste, 36, but he allegedly hung up. The deputy claimed he continued to call the father several times before JeanBaptiste allegedly blocked the law enforcement officer’s number. However, JeanBaptiste finally answered and allegedly claimed he and McMillian, 32, were at the store and would return to their home in five minutes.
JeanBaptiste and McMillian arrived at the home around 12:30 a.m., roughly an hour after the motorist claimed he found the child.
The couple was asked about their whereabouts, though they allegedly refused to share any information other than that they got into a fight and went to a store. Authorities noted that both JeanBaptiste and McMillian allegedly smelled of alcohol, noting that McMillian allegedly laughed when the cops questioned her.
Both JeanBaptiste and McMillian were arrested and transported to the Osceola County Jail. They are both being held in custody without bond.
Meanwhile, police said that a family member picked up the child and will take care of them as the parents remain in custody.
In addition to police, the Department of Children and Families is investigating the incident.
It is not currently clear if either JeanBaptiste and McMillian have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office had no additional information to share when contacted by Us about the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
