A mother has been arrested and faces charges of child abuse and neglect after she allegedly chained her daughter to a fence leaving her without food or water
A mother has been accused of chaining her 13-year-old daughter to a fence leaving her to starve without food or water in the sun.
The 34-year-old mother is facing child abuse and child neglect charges as police have accused her of chaining the girl to the fence of the teen’s great-grandmother’s house. Police stated Maldonado and her daughter arrived at the residence before 10 a.m. Saturday in Hialeah, Florida.
An arrest report stated the teen’s mother then allegedly wrapped a metal chain around her daughter’s waist and the other end to the house’s fence. The arrest report added Maldonado left her daughter outside the house and then drove away leaving her with no food, water or protection from the sun. The arrest report stated: “The defendant drove the victim in a beige Toyota Camry to the witness’ residence.” It added: “She wrapped a metal chain around the victim’s waist and tied the other end to the house fence, restricting her from moving around.”
The child was reportedly only left with a clear bookbag, some clothing and some medication. The victim’s great-grandmother said at about 9:10 a.m she got a text message from Maldonado stating: “I got fired from my job.”
After getting the text message the grandmother opened her front door and “in disbelief” closed it after seeing her granddaughter chained up outside.
The grandmother “attempted to release the victim from the chain but was not successful,” according to the report. The arrest report also said the grandmother told officers: “she did not call (the) police because she fears (her) landlord will evict her.”
Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriquez stated: “Once the father got word of that, he contacted police.” He added: “Officers arrived and sure enough found this 13-year-old child tied to the fence. It’s horrible. She left her outside, no shade. Right in the sun. The heat alone, it’s very sad for what happened to this 13-year-old child.”
Police also added Maldonado’s mother had claimed she had gone to her daughter’s home to “plea” the 34-year-old woman to free her girl.
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