Florida mother arrested after leaving four children alone in Kissimmee

Body camera footage captured Irene Miller being handcuffed and escorted through the terminal Friday morning. Deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office met her as she stepped off a plane to arrest her on four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. She was booked into the Orange County Jail following the detention.

The incident traces back to October 18 when Miller left Florida for Las Vegas to work. She told deputies she arranged for a babysitter from Tampa to help the children get ready for school in the mornings and check on them later. The sitter was not required to stay overnight. Miller said she planned to return home on October 23.

On the evening of October 21, one of the children called 911 to report that a dumbbell had fallen on her nine-year-old brother’s head. Deputies arrived at the family home in Kissimmee shortly after 8:30 p.m. and found four children, ages 9, 11, 12, and 14, with no adults present. Fire rescue crews transported the injured boy to Celebration Hospital, where he was treated and discharged.

Authorities contacted the children’s father during the initial investigation. He agreed to take all four children to his residence while detectives prepared to meet Miller upon her return. Sheriff Chris Blackmon stated the office will not tolerate child neglect. He added that these cases will be investigated and charges will be brought against parents who are not properly supervising their children.