ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County deputies say a 22-month-old toddler was left home alone for hours while her parents were out shopping at Walmart.
Deputies said marijuana was also found inside the Ormond Beach home located on Avenue J.
Chyanne Messer, 19, and Daniel Voisard, 24, were arrested and charged with child neglect and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Deputies said they were called to the home around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The caller wanted to remain anonymous but told authorities they saw the child being left home alone all the time.
When Volusia County deputies knocked on the front door, they say no one answered, but they could hear a young child talking inside.
Officers stood on a cinder block and peered into a window and said they saw a little girl in a bedroom all by herself.
All the doors and windows were locked, so deputies used a screwdriver to pry open a back door and broke in to rescue the toddler.
Investigators said they searched the house for the little girl's parents, but they were nowhere to be found.
What was found, officers said, was marijuana and a glass pipe in plain view on the coffee table.
Deputies said it wasn't until about two hours later that Voisard and Messer returned home.
Investigators said Voisard refused to answer any questions, but Messer told investigators when they left to go to Walmart, the little girl was sleeping so they thought it would be fine because they weren't going to be gone for very long.
Deputies immediately called the Department of Children and Families and the agency took custody of the little girl. Animal services was also called to pick up the couple's dog and care for it while they are in jail.