Mother and daughter accused of child neglect against four children in Miami Beach

A shocking case of alleged child neglect has shaken Miami Beach after two women, a mother and daughter, were arrested when four children aged between 1 and 8 were found in alarming conditions of neglect in the home they share.

The arrested individuals, whose nationality has not been disclosed: are Lourdes Reyes Martínez, 48 years old; and her daughter Cesia Rosales Reyes, 23, who are facing several charges of child neglect.

According to Univision, the incident took place last Saturday, when the city's police responded to a call from the father of one of the children - one year old - concerned for his well-being.

The man stated that Cesia Rosales Reyes, the child's mother, "has a history of leaving him alone and feared for his well-being."

Upon arriving at the residence, located at the intersection of 1324 Street and Euclid Ave, the officers heard a baby crying inside the apartment.

When they knocked on the door, it was an 8-year-old boy who answered it.

Inside the home, they found three more minors: one five years old sleeping on a bunk bed, another two years old walking around the place, and the youngest, one year old, crawling on the floor and crying.

Univision reports that the children aged one and two “were only wearing diapers, which were falling off because they were soiled with urine and feces."

The officers found an open jar of peanut butter on the floor of the room.

"The two-year-old boy had peanut butter smeared on his arms, legs, and face," the police report stated.

Deplorable conditions at home

The conditions in which the apartment was found were alarming.

According to the report from the aforementioned media outlet, “the kitchen did not have potable water available for the children, and the refrigerator only contained frozen meat and spoiled food. There was no food available in the pantry, and there was only one single bed and a bunk bed, which seemed to be shared by all the children.”

Telemundo 51 confirmed this situation by stating that the minors were "without access to drinking water or food and visibly neglected."

Attempt to evade the police and prior history

In the midst of the police intervention, an additional event occurred that worsened the situation.

Univision reported that the police received 911 calls about a traffic accident at the intersection of 11th Street and Euclid Avenue, where a vehicle overturned and both the driver and the passenger fled the scene.

Later, they were identified as Cosme Leyva -the father of the 2-year-old boy- and Cesia Rosales Reyes, who was injured in a man.

During the investigation, the police identified a third person, O.R., who arrived at the apartment while the officers were still on the scene and claimed that "she had left the children alone to go to the park."

According to Univision, Cesia Rosales Reyes “had been involved in a case where one of the children was found by neighbors alone outside the apartment and they called the police.”

Reactions from the environment and judicial measures

However, a neighbor interviewed by Telemundo 51 expressed her shock over what happened.

According to her, the family seemed "super calm."

"The only thing they did was play like all kids do, they go outside and have fun. The mother was busy working; we never saw any problems or anything inappropriate," he claimed.

"I found it quite shocking that the police came and took them away, because we never noticed a shortage that would warrant such a drastic decision," she added in the interview.

At the court hearing, the judge issued a restraining order against Cesia Rosales Reyes, which caused the young woman to begin crying.

However, the judge emphasized that "the final decision rests with the Department of Children and Family."

Currently, the children remain under the custody of child protection services, while both women face charges of "child neglect without serious bodily harm".

A migration restraining order is also in effect against mother and daughter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Neglect in Miami Beach