Florida Mom Accused Of Leaving Four Children Home Alone For Cruise
A North Miami Beach mother returned from a three-night cruise Monday to find police waiting for her at PortMiami.
Nathalie Belizaire, 29, is accused of leaving four children — including a 2-month-old infant and a 2-year-old — alone inside her apartment while she sailed aboard Carnival Conquest, according to an arrest report described by Local 10.
Police did not discover the children because someone assigned to watch them called for help. Instead, the father of the infant went to the apartment Saturday after becoming concerned about where the children actually were.
What officers later learned complicated the story further: Belizaire had apparently discussed childcare arrangements with relatives before leaving, but police say those arrangements never resulted in an adult being inside the home with the children.
Voices Inside
Embedded media follows; please allow a moment to load.
The infant’s father, Lether Bazile, told police Belizaire had said she planned to leave the children with their great-grandmother, according to an arrest affidavit reported by USA TODAY.
But when Bazile arrived at Belizaire’s residence Sept. 26, he heard the children talking and could see that a television was on inside.
He contacted police.
First responders forced their way into the apartment and found all four children without an adult present. The arrest report said the children were together, hiding in a bathroom.
The affidavit indicates Belizaire had not simply left without communicating with family members. Her brother, Steven Borgella, told police she texted him Sept. 26 and asked him to check on the children.
The children’s great-grandmother, Denise Wilkes, provided another part of the timeline. She told police Belizaire had said she would drop the children off with her, but never arrived with them.
Three Nights Away
Carnival Conquest had departed PortMiami on Sept. 25 for a three-night Bahamas sailing.
Local 10 reported that the infant’s father had seen a social media post indicating Belizaire was on the cruise. When he questioned her about the children, she told him they would be staying with their great-grandmother.
By then, police say, the children were instead inside the North Miami Beach apartment.
The Florida Department of Children and Families became involved after the children were discovered, Local 10 reported.
Belizaire remained away until Carnival Conquest returned to Miami on Monday, Sept. 28.
Waiting At Port
Carnival Cruise Line told USA TODAY that U.S. Customs and Border Protection escorted a passenger off Carnival Conquest when the ship arrived in Miami, describing the situation as a law-enforcement matter unrelated to operation of the vessel.
Belizaire was then taken into custody.
Police charged her with four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, one involving each child.
According to the affidavit, Belizaire declined to give police a statement following her arrest.
The publicly available reporting reviewed by Guessing Headlights did not establish a current bond amount or whether Belizaire remained jailed as of Tuesday morning. Her charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
