An Oklahoma mother, Rubi Verduzco, 29, reportedly left her baby at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood on Christmas Eve. Authorities have arrested Verduzco and she is now facing two charges of felony child neglect without causing serious harm, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
According to NBC Miami, a baby was found at the hotel’s bell desk. Officer Joseph Cimino from the Seminole Police Department discovered the infant. He described seeing the baby, who was wearing a soiled diaper, in a stroller exposed to the elements. The bell desk employee stated that three men had left the baby there only 30 minutes before the officer’s arrival.
Verduzco arrived at the scene following Cimino’s arrival. Her identification was possible thanks to her Oklahoma medical marijuana card. In his affidavit, the officer mentioned that Verduzco claimed to have had a fight with her ‘Baby Daddy’, and she left the baby with some unknown friends whom she couldn’t provide any names for. Cimino described Verduzco as highly intoxicated, with bloodshot and watery eyes. He also noted that Verduzco was slurring her speech and had a strong smell of alcohol on her breath.
Mother Arrested
The baby’s age remains undisclosed as no confirmed information is available. According to the affidavit, Verduzco expressed uncertainty about the baby’s date of birth. At the scene, Verduzco contacted a man she claimed to be the baby’s father. Initially, he suggested that the state should assume custody of the baby, as reported by PEOPLE. However, Cimino could not verify the man’s identity. Subsequently, the man called back, expressing uncertainty about his ability to come to the Hard Rock and retrieve his child.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted by the police, who then took custody of the baby. Subsequently, the woman was arrested by Officer Cimino. Verduzco was apprehended due to her inability to provide information regarding who, where, or for how long she had left her baby unattended.
Rubi Verduzco was arrested and taken into custody at the North Broward Bureau jail on December 24, as reported by Law & Crime. After two days, a magistrate judge set her bond at $2,500. While Verduzco is still in prison, as stated by WPLG, she was able to post bond and was subsequently released, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.