A South Florida mother is facing multiple child neglect charges after authorities say she allegedly left her four young children home alone while she went on a three-night Carnival cruise to the Bahamas.
According to reports, 29-year-old Nathalie Belizaire of North Miami Beach was arrested Monday after returning to PortMiami aboard the Carnival Conquest.
Police allege Belizaire left all four children inside her apartment without adult supervision while she went out of town. One of the children was reportedly just 2 months old, while another was 2 years old. The ages of the other two children have not been publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed.
According to the arrest report cited by multiple outlets, the situation came to light after the father of the infant became concerned about the children.
The father reportedly saw a post on Belizaire’s WhatsApp story that appeared to show she had purchased a Carnival cruise ticket.
When he contacted her about the children, authorities say Belizaire told him she planned to leave them with their great-grandmother.
However, investigators say that did not happen.
The great-grandmother reportedly told police that Belizaire had told her she intended to drop the children off because she was going out of town, but she never brought them over.
The father later went to Belizaire’s residence and reportedly heard a television playing and the children inside.
That’s when he contacted 911.
Police Say Children Were Found Hiding in Bathroom
When North Miami Beach police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived at the residence, authorities reportedly had to force their way inside.
According to the arrest report, all four children were found inside the home without an adult present.
The children were reportedly found hiding together in a bathroom.
The circumstances prompted authorities to take the children into protective care while the investigation continued.
Police also reportedly learned that Belizaire’s brother had received a message instructing him to check on the children.
She Was Allegedly On A Carnival Cruise
While the children were allegedly left at home, Belizaire was aboard Carnival Conquest, which departed PortMiami on Friday for a short Bahamas itinerary.
The ship returned to Miami Monday morning.
Authorities were reportedly waiting for Belizaire when the ship returned to PortMiami.
After she disembarked, she was taken into custody and turned over to North Miami Beach police, according to reports.
Belizaire allegedly declined to give investigators a statement after her arrest and invoked her right to remain silent.
Belizaire is facing four felony counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, according to reports citing the Miami-Dade court system.
Each charge relates to one of the four children.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Belizaire is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty.
The case is now expected to move through the criminal court system as authorities continue addressing the circumstances surrounding the children being left without adult supervision.
The story has sparked plenty of reaction online, with many people questioning how a mother could allegedly leave four young children—including an infant—alone for days to go on a cruise.
For now, the criminal case against Belizaire remains pending.
Video Credit: WPLG Local 10