A woman was charged after her infant was found unattended in a stroller at the entrance to Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood on Christmas Eve.
Local police were alerted and located the baby who was left alone on Tuesday near a bell desk employee.
A short time later, the infant’s mother, Rubi C. Verduzco, 29, who was visiting from Bethany, Oklahoma, was arrested for child neglect.
Diaper Was Soiled
[The] infant [was] wearing a soiled diaper in a stroller out in the open elements,” according to a police report quoted by Florida TV station WTVJ.
Three men initially dropped the child by the bell desk at the Old Main Entrance of the casino, and then walked away — just hours before Christmas.
A casino employee alerted the Seminole Police Department and apparently remained near the child. About a half hour later, a tribal police officer arrived at the bell desk.
Some 15 minutes later, Verduzco showed up at the bell station. It was unclear whether she came back on her own or was alerted to the situation by police or casino employees.
An officer said the woman appeared under the influence of alcohol. Her eyes were watery and bloodshot, her speech was slurred, and her breath smelled of alcohol, police said.
Didn’t Know Child’s Birthdate
She also appeared confused and didn’t know the baby’s birthdate. She couldn’t say “who, where or for what length of time she left her baby,” according to the police report.
Verduzco’s identity was confirmed by an Oklahoma-issued medical marijuana card, police said. She was able to provide police the child’s name, too.
Verduzco was booked into Broward County’s Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale. Her bail was set at $2,500. Based on online jail records, it appears Verduzco was released from jail as of later in the week. The case was turned over to local prosecutors.
A police officer let Verduzco call a man she said was the baby’s father. He initially told police he was in Oklahoma. Later, he claimed to be in Orlando, Fla., but couldn’t guarantee he would be able to pick up the child from the gaming property.
The man told the officer that state authorities should be given custody of the infant, according to WTVJ. He also recommended that Verduzco be arrested, Florida radio station WOOD reported.
The officer later alerted the Florida Department of Children and Families. The child was placed under the agency’s care.
The age and gender of the child weren’t reported in local media. Nor was it clear what Verduzco was doing at the casino or how the three men got temporary custody of the infant.
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