A Florida woman was taken into custody upon her return from Las Vegas, accused of leaving her four young children unattended at their home for several days while she was away for work. Deputies met Irene Miller as she disembarked her flight Friday morning, escorting her through the terminal before her arrest.
Investigation Initiated After 911 Call
The arrest followed an incident two days earlier when one of Miller’s children contacted emergency services. The call reported that a dumbbell had fallen on her 9-year-old brother’s head, according to information released by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Kissimmee residence shortly after 8:30 p.m. on October 21. They discovered four children, aged 9, 11, 12, and 14, without any adult supervision. Emergency medical personnel transported the injured boy to Celebration Hospital, where he received treatment and was subsequently discharged.
Mother's Travel and Childcare Claims
Upon reaching Miller by phone, a deputy learned she was in Las Vegas for employment and intended to return on October 23. Investigators determined she had departed Florida on October 18, indicating she had been away for several days prior to the 911 call.
Miller informed deputies that she had arranged for a babysitter to travel from Tampa daily. The babysitter's responsibilities included assisting the children with school preparations in the mornings and checking on them after school. However, according to the sheriff’s office, the sitter was not required to stay overnight at the home.
Authorities subsequently contacted the children’s father, who agreed to take all four children into his care. Detectives then made arrangements to intercept Miller upon her flight’s arrival.
Charges Filed and Official Statement
Irene Miller, 50, was arrested and charged with four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. She was subsequently booked into the Orange County Jail.
Sheriff Chris Blackmon issued a statement regarding the incident. "The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate child neglect," Blackmon asserted. "These cases will be investigated, and charges will be brought against the parents who are not properly supervising or caring for their children."
