WEST MELBOURNE, FL – A Florida mother found herself in police custody after her neglectful actions led to the discovery of her eight-month-old baby and two-year-old toddler left alone in an unlocked vehicle parked outside Annie’s Bar in West Melbourne, Florida. The incident took place on a Sunday evening when an alert police officer conducting a routine business patrol in the bar’s parking lot noticed the unattended children.
The mother, identified as 33-year-old Jamie Leigh Gunn, now faces charges of child neglect following her arrest. West Melbourne Police swiftly took action, arresting and booking Gunn into the Brevard County Jail.
The officer on duty found the infants soundly asleep in the backseat of an SUV with the vehicle’s doors left unlocked and its engine running. This concerning situation prompted the immediate involvement of law enforcement.
Upon investigating the matter, it was revealed that Jamie Leigh Gunn was inside the bar, engaged in socializing with a friend, having exhibited no regard for her children’s safety during her absence. Her stay inside the bar extended for a minimum of 20 minutes while her children were left unattended in the vehicle.
West Melbourne Police Department, in a Facebook post, emphasized that Jamie Leigh Gunn appeared more concerned about the impending legal consequences than the well-being of her children when she learned of law enforcement’s presence outside the bar.
Gunn’s arrest led to her subsequent booking in Brevard County Jail, with bond set at $15,000. She was released the following day.
In the best interest of the children, who were subjected to this alarming situation, they were entrusted to a family member’s care. Furthermore, the Department of Children and Families has been contacted to initiate a follow-up investigation, ensuring the children’s safety and well-being.
