Texas Mom Arrested After Leaving 6-Month-Old Baby Alone on Beach — Her Excuse Stuns Police
MIRAMAR BEACH, FLORIDA — A Texas healthcare executive and her husband are facing child neglect charges after allegedly leaving their six-month-old baby alone for more than an hour on a Florida beach while they went for a walk with their three other children.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to Miramar Beach around noon on October 10 after concerned beachgoers discovered an infant sleeping alone under a tent.
Couple Claims Baby Was “Just Napping”
Authorities identified the parents as Sara Sommers Wilks, 37, and Brian Wilks, 40, who told investigators that they “lost track of time” while walking along the beach. The couple admitted to leaving their baby in the tent because the infant “usually naps during that time.”
“Mr. Wilks stated that the infant usually naps during this time and was asleep when they left the infant in the tent unattended,” the police report read.
“The defendant stated that they lost track of time and did not realize how long they had been gone.”
Police confirmed that the baby had been left alone from approximately 11 a.m. to 12:06 p.m. before the parents returned.
Security Footage Confirms the Timeline
Surveillance cameras from nearby properties corroborated the account, showing the couple leaving the area with their other children and not returning for over an hour.
When deputies arrived, the baby was still under the tent — unharmed but vulnerable to heat and environmental exposure. Witnesses stayed near the infant until law enforcement arrived.
Who Is Sara Sommers Wilks?
Wilks, a Texas-based healthcare executive, had been honored earlier this year by Cardiovascular Business in its “Forty Under 40” list, which recognized her as “an exceptional leader” in the medical field.
The arrest has since drawn widespread attention, with many online commenters expressing disbelief that a mother in her position could make such a reckless decision.
Arrest and Charges
Both parents were arrested on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and taken to the Walton County Jail, where they spent the night before posting $1,000 bail each.
The couple has not yet commented publicly on the incident. Authorities have not stated whether the Department of Children and Families is pursuing further investigation.
Public Reaction
The story has sparked outrage and disbelief, with parents and child safety advocates condemning the Wilks’ actions as dangerously irresponsible.
Local officials stressed that even brief moments of unsupervised time can lead to tragedy. “Leaving a baby unattended in an open public space — especially a hot Florida beach — can have life-threatening consequences,” one safety officer said.
If you witness a child left alone in a public setting, contact local law enforcement immediately. Stay connected with NapervilleLocal.com for more national and community news updates.
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