EUSTIS, Fla.—A babysitter accused of leaving the infant she was caring for in a Eustis parking lot has been released from jail on $2,000 bond.
Wendy Michelle Kirk, 46, was arrested after someone reported a baby was left unattended in a car seat in the parking lot of Martial Arts World, 284 West Ardice Avenue, Eustis, around 4:10 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest affidavit.
When Eustis Police Department arrived on scene, a witness told officers Kirk dropped off another child at the business around 3:30 p.m. She returned about 30 minutes later, picked up several children, and left. After class ended, the witness saw the baby in a car seat on the hot asphalt, alone. The temperature was 96 degrees.
After unsuccessfully searching for an adult, the witness brought the baby inside and called police.
Lake EMS and Eustis Fire Department responded to the scene and the baby was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares to get checked out, and hospital staff said the baby “did not present any medical concerns,” the affidavit states.
EPD spoke with an employee and reviewed security footage showing Kirk leaving the business at 4:02 p.m. The call to EPD reporting the baby was found came in seven minutes later, at 4:09 p.m. While officers were investigating, Kirk returned to the business at 4:36 p.m.—34 minutes after she left—and appeared visibly “distressed and crying.” Kirk told police she returned as soon as she realized she left the baby behind. She said she dropped several children off at the business at 3:30 p.m. and then went home to pick the baby up from her 18-year-old daughter, who was watching him. She went back to the business to pick the other children up at 4 p.m. After walking outside, she placed three older children in her vehicle and set the baby down on the asphalt.
She drove to a local church; the name and address of the church are redacted from the affidavit, so it’s unclear how far she drove. She let the three children who were with her play on the church’s playground, while she sold some merchandise, according to the affidavit. After staying at the church for around 20 to 25 minutes, she drove back to Ardice Avenue and met with police.
Kirk was arrested for child neglect and transported to the Lake County Jail. According to the affidavit, the Department of Children and Families has opened its own investigation.
