Cops: Lake Mary woman left 3 kids home alone during trip to California

Children, ages 8, 9, 11, not harmed, Seminole County deputies say

LAKE MARY, Fla. – A Lake Mary woman bonded out of jail on Friday after she was arrested for leaving her three children home alone while she traveled to California, deputies said.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Naiele Santa Ana Olivas, 29, of Lake Mary, faces three counts of child neglect.

Deputies said Olivas left Florida on Jan. 8 and failed to make arrangements for the children, ages 8, 9 and 11, to have supervision while she was away for an 11-day trip out West. 

"What we found out was that they were left home alone for a number of days,"  Seminole County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kim Cannaday said.

Three days later, one of the children contacted family members, who took the children into their care, deputies said. They were not harmed, deputies said.

"She left them with $50 and access to a phone," Cannaday said. "She even checked in with them every night, but that's just not enough. That's not acceptable."

Investigators contacted Olivas in California and arrested her when she returned to Seminole County, the Sheriff's Office said.

Olivias posted $15,000 bond on Friday, and she had nothing to say to News 6 as she ran to a waiting car and drove away.

Cannaday said her three children are now in the custody of relatives.

She said it will be up to a judge whether or not Olivas can visit her children or regain custody.


About the Author:

Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009. When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com, Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby.

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