WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A Santa Rosa Beach woman was arrested Thursday after reportedly leaving her five-year-old child home alone while she went shopping, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
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Deputies responded to North Gulf Drive on October 16 following a call about a child found wandering in the roadway. A caller told deputies the unsupervised child appeared to live nearby with his mother.
Deputies located the home and determined the mother, identified as Maureen Oneill, 37, had left the residence unattended. After several failed attempts to contact her, deputies learned Ms Oneill had texted a neighbor saying she was “okay.” She later confirmed to deputies she was returning from a Target store in Panama City Beach and reportedly admitted to leaving her son alone, assuming a neighbor would watch over him.
According to the WCSO, further investigation revealed that Ms Oneill had left home around 5:40 p.m. and did not return until about 9:40 p.m., with no arrangements made for the child’s care.
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The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified and advised that the child could stay temporarily with a neighbor until his grandparents arrived from Tennessee to assume custody.
Ms Oneill was charged with child neglect and booked into the Walton County Jail.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and supervision of our children,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“We are grateful for the concerned citizen who acted quickly to ensure this child’s well-being.”
