Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sarah Diane Lefevers, 42, was arrested on June 18 for allegedly leaving her one-year-old daughter unattended on the porch of an acquaintance’s home after sending a text saying she was leaving on a plane.

According to a sworn complaint filed by Gainesville Police Department, at about 7:08 p.m. on February 14, 2025, Lefevers left her one-year-old daughter on the external porch of a residence belonging to a woman she only knew through the child’s father.

The caller told an officer that Lefevers sent her several text messages, saying she was leaving on a plane and that the child’s father needed to take the child because she was “leaving for good.” The caller said she told Lefevers she did not want to be in the middle of any issues between Lefevers and the child’s father, and Lefevers reportedly replied, “I’m literally going to leave her on the porch.”

Lefevers then sent the caller a text that said, “My kid is outside your door call her dad.” The caller said she brought the child inside a few minutes later.

The officer noted that the child appeared to have some sort of rash on her face that had not been treated.

Lefevers has been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); she was last arrested in August 2024 for drug possession and sentenced to two years of probation after pleading nolo contendere to one of the charges in November 2024. The arrest was her third violation of probation: her probation officer had previously filed affidavits alleging that she had moved from her address without notice, had failed a drug test, and had failed to show up at an appointment for a mental health evaluation. Judge Kristine Van Vorst ordered her held without bail until the probation violation is resolved and set bail at $30,000 on the child neglect charge. Lefevers has remained in jail since June 18 and is scheduled to enter a plea in both cases on August 7.

[Editor’s note: We made a public records request for the sworn complaint in this case on June 19 and received it on July 23.]

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.