Florida Casino Visitor Arrested After Her Soiled Baby Was Left Alone on Christmas Eve

Florida Casino Visitor Arrested After Her Soiled Baby Was Left Alone on Christmas Eve.

Costfoto / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

A woman was charged with child neglect after her infant was found in a stroller at the entrance to on .

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino HollywoodSeminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, pictured above. A woman was arrested there after her baby was left alone. (Image: Kayak)

Local police were alerted and located the baby who was on Tuesday near a bell desk employee.

A short time later, the infant s mother, Rubi C. Verduzco, 29, who was visiting from Bethany, Okla., was arrested in connection with the incident.

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.

Just hours before Christmas, three men dropped the child by the bell desk at the casino s Old Main Entrance and then walked away. A casino employee alerted the Seminole Police Department and remained near the child until a tribal police officer arrived.

About 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 Verduzco appeared to be 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

Verduzco 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.

Verduzco was booked into Broward County s Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale and had bail set at $2,500.

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.

Based on online jail records, it appears Verduzco was released from jail later in the week. The case was turned over to local prosecutors.

Article Sources
St. Croix Chippewa Indians May Face Federal Inquiry after Allegations Involving $1.5M of Casino Funds editorial policy.
  1. DraftKings CEO Says Sports Shutdown Increasing Interest in Offbeat Events

Compare Accounts
×
NFL Bust Johnny Manziel Slinging Signatures and Selfies for Cash
Provider
Name
Description
President Trump Extends Social Distancing To April 30, Casinos Likely Shut Down Until Then  Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Beshear Follows Father’s Footsteps, Wants Commercial Casinos  Casino Crime Round Up: Gambling Equipment, $23K Seized in Michigan Raid  Casino Worker Steals $20K, Spends it at Casino  COVID-19 Running Rampant Throughout Macau, Half of Casino Staff Infected  Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Beshear Follows Father’s Footsteps, Wants Commercial Casinos  Cordish Company Loses Out on Chance to Bring Casino Resort to Spain  Vietnam Casinos Soften Policies on Allowing Locals to Play, But Only If They Meet Certain Income Levels  Tokyo 2020 Olympics Officially Bumped to July 23, 2021, But Will Coronavirus Be Under Control by Then?  St. Croix Chippewa Indians May Face Federal Inquiry after Allegations Involving $1.5M of Casino Funds