How could a baby end up abandoned at a bustling Florida hotel and casino? This case reveals a mix of neglect, intoxication, and confusion as authorities step in to protect an innocent child left in an alarming situation.
What led to such a heartbreaking turn of events on Christmas Eve?.. Continue reading here ▶
A woman from Oklahoma was arrested on Christmas Eve after allegedly abandoning her baby at a Florida hotel and casino. Rubi Verduzco, 29, was charged with two counts of felony child neglect.
Police were called to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, where they found a baby in a soiled diaper outside in the open air.
According to an affidavit from the Seminole Police Department, an employee said three men had left the baby near the bell desk and walked away. The baby was alone for about 30 minutes before the officer arrived.
Fifteen minutes later, Verduzco returned, claiming she had fought with the baby’s father and left the child with unidentified friends she couldn’t name.
Police said she appeared very intoxicated, with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and a strong smell of alcohol. She could tell officers the baby’s name but didn’t know the child’s date of birth.
Verduzco contacted a man she claimed was the baby’s father, but he initially said he was in Oklahoma and that the state should take custody of the child. Later, the man admitted he was in Orlando but was unsure if he could come to get the baby.
Police couldn’t confirm whether he was actually the father. Verduzco was arrested because she couldn’t explain who was caring for the baby or for how long.
The Florida Department of Children and Families has taken custody of the baby, and Verduzco is being held on a $2,500 bond at Broward County jail.
