A 29-year-old Florida mother, Nathalie Belizaire, has been arrested for allegedly leaving her four young children home alone for four days while she went on a cruise to the Bahamas.
Belizaire reportedly left the children at her apartment in North Miami Beach on Friday before boarding the Carnival Conquest. She was arrested on Monday after returning from the cruise, where she was met by North Miami Beach police officers.
According to police, the father of her two-month-old baby became concerned after seeing photos and posts indicating that Belizaire was on a cruise. She allegedly told him that all four children were staying with their great-grandmother.
The father reportedly went to the apartment on Saturday night and noticed that the television was on and could hear the children inside, but Belizaire was not there.
First responders later entered the apartment and found all four children without adult supervision. The siblings were reportedly hiding together in a bathroom.
Police have not disclosed the ages of all four children but confirmed that one is two months old and another is two years old.
Investigators said Belizaire claimed she had arranged for their great-grandmother to care for the children. However, the woman reportedly told police that Belizaire never brought the children to her.
Belizaire also allegedly sent a text message to her brother asking him to check on the children during the weekend.
Her attorney said Belizaire denies the allegations. Belizaire declined to give investigators a statement and invoked her right to remain silent.
She faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm and was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Her bond was set at $10,000.