In a shocking incident on Christmas Eve, Rubi Verduzco, 29, was arrested at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, after her baby was found abandoned and alone.
According to the Seminole Police Department, an officer responded to the scene after being called about an infant left unattended. When the officer arrived, they found the baby wearing a soiled diaper, exposed to the elements, and left for about 30 minutes before help arrived.
Witnesses told the officer that three men had dropped the baby off near the bell desk and walked away. Verduzco showed up 15 minutes later, reportedly smelling strongly of alcohol, with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and struggling to hold herself together. She claimed she had fought with her “baby daddy,” leaving the child with friends she couldn’t name.
Verduzco also struggled to answer basic questions about her child, even getting the baby’s birthdate wrong. When she called the man she identified as the father, he first claimed to be in Oklahoma, then later said he was in Orlando but wasn’t sure if he could come to get the baby.
As a result of her confusion and apparent neglect, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the infant. Verduzco was arrested on two felony counts of child neglect and taken to Broward County Jail, where she was held on a $2,500 bond.
It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how vital it is to always be responsible for the care of our little ones.
