A Florida mother has been accused of leaving her four children, including a two-month-old baby, alone at home while she took a three-day cruise to the Bahamas.
Nathalie Belizaire, 29, of North Miami Beach, was arrested on Monday after disembarking from Carnival Conquest at PortMiami. She faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.
The children were discovered on Saturday after the father of the youngest child became concerned about their whereabouts. He had seen a WhatsApp post which appeared to show Belizaire had bought a Carnival cruise ticket.
According to the arrest affidavit, Belizaire told him she intended to leave the children with their great-grandmother before travelling. The great-grandmother later told investigators that Belizaire had said she would bring the children over, but never did.
The father went to Belizaire’s flat and said he could see a television on through the blinds and hear the children inside. Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews forced their way into the property and found all four children together in a bathroom without an adult present.
Among them was a two-year-old child. The ages of the other two children have not been disclosed.
Investigators said Belizaire’s brother had also been asked to check on the children. Police determined that she had boarded the Carnival Conquest on Friday, September 25, for a three-night sailing to the Bahamas.
US Customs and Border Protection officers were waiting at PortMiami when the ship returned on Monday and handed her over to North Miami Beach police. Investigators said Belizaire declined to give a statement.
The children were reported to be safe and were placed in temporary care following the discovery.
Belizaire appeared in court on Tuesday, September 29. Her lawyer said she denied the allegations. She was released on bond and is due to return to court on November 24.
