WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — Two parents from Texas are facing child neglect charges after reportedly leaving their six-month-old baby unattended for nearly an hour on Miramar Beach, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
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Deputies were called to 4000 Sandestin Boulevard around noon on Friday, October 10, following reports of an infant left alone beneath a beach tent. Witnesses told deputies the baby had been unattended for close to an hour while the parents walked down the beach with three other children.
Good Samaritans reportedly began caring for the infant and called for help. South Walton Fire District personnel arrived to evaluate the child, and deputies said the baby’s vitals were normal and they were not in distress.
When the parents, identified as Brian Wilks, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37, of Houston, returned to the scene, both reportedly admitted to placing the child under the tent for a nap before leaving, claiming they lost track of time.
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Security footage confirmed the family had been gone for nearly an hour and had not taken a cell phone with them, the WCSO said.
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified and responded to the beach. DCF took custody of the children pending the arrival of relatives traveling from Texas.
Both parents were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. They bonded out the following day on $1,000 each.
Sheriff Michael Adkinson praised the beachgoers who intervened to protect the child.
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“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 Adkinson.
The WCSO said the incident serves as a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences and may lead to tragic outcomes.
