Couple Charged for Leaving 6-Month-Old Baby Alone on the Beach, Claim They ‘Lost Track of Time’

A Texas couple is facing child neglect charges after allegedly leaving their six-month-old baby unattended on a Florida beach.

Brian and Sara Wilks of Houston were visiting Miramar Beach with their four children when they allegedly left their infant under a tent for nearly an hour, according to a statement from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).

Deputies responded around noon on Friday, Oct. 11, following reports of an unattended baby. Witnesses told authorities that the parents had walked away with their other children, leaving the infant behind.

Good Samaritans cared for the baby until first responders arrived. Brian, 40, and Sara, 37, returned to the area while deputies were still on scene, the WCSO said.

The couple admitted they had placed the baby under the tent for a nap and “lost track of time,” per the sheriff’s office. Security footage confirmed they were away for close to an hour and had not brought their phones with them.

Emergency personnel from the South Walton Fire District determined the baby’s vitals were normal and that the infant was not in distress. The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of all four children until relatives from Texas could arrive.

Brian and Sara were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, authorities said. They were released the next day on a $1,000 bond each. It’s unclear whether they have legal representation.

“This incident serves as a reminder that even brief moments of inattention can have serious consequences,” the WCSO said. “We’re thankful for the quick-thinking beachgoer who raised the alarm and for those who stepped in to care for the child.”

Major Dustin Cosson of the sheriff’s office told ABC 13 that the couple’s excuse didn’t justify their actions.
“That’s all fine and dandy, but you don’t just leave a baby at a house and then go off to the store,” Cosson said. “The baby could roll over and suffocate itself, or the wind could blow a towel over its face. There’s no telling what could have happened.”

Cosson added a warning for other parents visiting Florida: “Yes, it’s a bubble, but that doesn’t mean as you cross over the county or state line you can leave common sense behind. You still have to do the best for your children.”

According to Cardiovascular Business, Sara works as a regional president at US Heart and Vascular in Houston.