NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA — Apparently, four children weren’t enough to interfere with one Florida mother’s vacation plans.
Twenty-nine-year-old Nathalie Belizaire is facing four counts of child neglect after police say she left her children alone inside their North Miami Beach residence while she embarked on a three-night Carnival cruise to the Bahamas.
Among the four children allegedly abandoned were a two-month-old infant and a two-year-old toddler. The ages of the other two children have not been confirmed.
A Vacation That Ended With Police Waiting at the Port
According to investigators, Belizaire boarded Carnival Conquest when it departed PortMiami on Friday, September 25, for a weekend getaway to the Bahamas.
Carnival Conquest
But while she was enjoying her cruise, police allege her four children were left at home without an adult to care for them.
The situation reportedly came to light after the father of her youngest child discovered a social media post showing Belizaire on vacation. Concerned about the children’s whereabouts, he contacted her.
According to the arrest report described by local media, Belizaire told him she intended to leave the children with their great-grandmother.
Unfortunately, investigators say that arrangement never happened.
Four Children Discovered Hiding in a Bathroom
On Saturday night, the infant’s father went to the residence.
He reportedly heard a television playing and the children’s voices inside, but no adult answered. Concerned, he contacted emergency services.
First responders subsequently forced their way into the residence.
What they discovered was disturbing: all four children were inside the home without adult supervision, reportedly hiding together in the bathroom.
Arrested Upon Her Return
Belizaire’s vacation came to an abrupt end Monday morning when Carnival Conquest returned to PortMiami.
Officers with the North Miami Beach Police Department were waiting. According to reporting based on the arrest affidavit, U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially took her into custody before transferring her to local authorities.
Belizaire reportedly invoked her right to remain silent when investigators attempted to question her.
She now faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.
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