Little girl and her dog found abandoned in Florida, caretakers arrested
Share and Follow


The six-year-old girl’s mother and her boyfriend were each charged with desertion of a child and abandonment of an animal, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

DELTONA, Fla. — A mother and her boyfriend were arrested on Friday after deputies found a six-year-old girl wandering alone with her dog in Deltona, Florida.

In a news release, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said the six-year-old girl’s mother and her boyfriend were each charged with desertion of a child and abandonment of an animal.

Around 4:30 p.m., deputies responded to a woman’s home near Vann Park in Deltona after she reported the girl and her dog wandering in the front yard.

“The girl said she was hot, thirsty and hungry, so the woman and a neighbor brought her food, water, toys and clean clothes,” deputies said. “Deltona Fire Rescue responded to check her vitals and confirm she was OK.”

Deputies reportedly learned the girl’s mother and her boyfriend dropped her off in the area that morning. She also told deputies she was “homeless” and “does not attend school.”

The sheriff’s office provided bodycam video of their encounter with the six-year-old and her dog, as well as the arrest of her caretakers.

“Am I going to go in the police car?” the girl asks deputies.

“Yeah, we’re going to take you for a ride!” a deputy responds.

The girl was then taken to the Volusia Family Resource Center before her grandparents were identified and contacted to take custody, the agency said. 

Around 1 a.m. the next day, members of the Deltona Crime Suppression Team tracked down the mother and her boyfriend before arresting them.

The full bodycam video can be viewed below:

Child found alone in Deltona

Around 4:30 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to a home near Vann Park in Deltona, where a woman saw a 6-year-old child and her dog wandering in her front yard, then found her sitting in a chair in her carport.

The girl said she was hot, thirsty and hungry, so the woman and a neighbor brought her food, water, toys and clean clothes. Deltona Fire Rescue responded to check her vitals and confirm she was OK.

Responding deputies learned the girl’s mom and mom’s boyfriend dropped her off in the area in the morning. They also learned she was homeless and does not attend school.

The little girl was taken to the Volusia Family Resource Center (VFRC), where her grandparents were identified and contacted to take custody. The VFRC is a full-scale assessment center that offers high-quality social services to juveniles and their families, and connects them with available resources and assistance.

Members of the Deltona Crime Suppression Team tracked down mom and boyfriend around 1 a.m. Saturday and took them into custody on charges of desertion of a child and abandonment of an animal.

Posted by Volusia Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, April 5, 2025

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
New interstellar comet will keep a safe distance from Earth, NASA says

NASA reports: Recently discovered comet from another star system will not pose a threat to Earth.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has discovered an interstellar comet that’s wandered…
Trump to sign tax and spending bill into law at July 4 picnic

Trump set to enact tax and spending bill during July 4 celebration

The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 multi-trillion dollar tax cuts and cuts Medicaid…
Space capsule carrying ashes of 166 people meets bizarre end

Strange Conclusion for Space Capsule Holding Ashes of 166 Individuals

A space capsule carrying the ashes of 166 people met an anticlimactic…
Reed Garrett breaks out of funk to save Mets' exhausted bullpen

“Reed Garrett Turns the Tide, Rescuing Mets’ weary Bullpen”

The Mets had nowhere else to turn.  All things considered, they had…
Immigrants’ deportation to South Sudan briefly blocked after Supreme Court cleared the way

Brief Halt on Immigrants’ Deportation to South Sudan Lifted by Supreme Court

A federal judge temporarily stopped the deportation of eight immigrants to South…
Cassie Ventura finally breaks cover after shock Diddy verdict

Cassie Ventura emerges after surprising Diddy decision

Cassie Ventura has been seen for the first time following the conclusion of…
Trump speaks with Zelenskyy after ‘disappointing’ call with Putin

Zelenskyy has conversation with Trump following ‘disappointing’ call with Putin

WASHINGTON () Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had an “important and fruitful”…
Human remains discovered in California fireworks facility

Human remains found at fireworks facility in California

Officials have confirmed that human remains were found at the scene of…