WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Two parents are accused of leaving their 6-month-old baby unattended for nearly an hour while at the beach, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to Miramar Beach in the Florida Panhandle, where witnesses said the child had been left alone while Brian Wilks, 40, and Sara Wilks, 37 — who are from Texas — walked their other children down the beach.
The sheriff’s office said the parents returned and said they had put the child down for a nap under a tent and claimed they lost track of time.
[MORE FLA. BEACH NEWS: Brevard coast suffers erosion]
The child was assessed by fire personnel and was not in distress, officials said.
The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the children until family members arrived from Texas.
The parents were arrested on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm. They were released from jail after posting pond.
[WATCH BELOW: Slippery sidewalks in Daytona Beach subdivision spark safety concerns]
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
