Florida Mother Arrested After 7-Year-Old Discovers Her Inside Bar Following Hours Alone in Unlocked Car, Authorities Report

Florida Mother Arrested After 7-Year-Old Discovers Her Inside Bar Following Hours Alone in Unlocked Car, Authorities Report

A mother in Florida was arrested after allegedly leaving her 7-year-old daughter alone in a car while she got drunk at a local bar, according to the DeLand Police Department. Veronica Elliott, 35, was charged with child neglect following the incident that occurred at The Perfect Spot Bar in DeLand. The police were called to the bar when the young girl approached them, looking for her mother. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the child had been left in an unlocked car in a dark parking lot with no lights. The exact time Elliott arrived at the bar is unclear, but the police arrived at 2:58 a.m. and found her at around 6:30 a.m. Elliott claimed that she only intended to be away for 10 minutes. However, the police noted that she appeared intoxicated, with slurred speech patterns and unsteady body movements. The Department of Children and Families responded to the scene and took custody of the child. Elliott has since been released from jail after posting a $2,500 bond.