Woman Arrested After Leaving 6-Year-Old Son Unattended at Sunny Isles Beach Park

A 41-year-old woman from Corpus Christi, Texas, was taken into custody over the weekend following an incident in which her young son was discovered unattended at a public park in Sunny Isles Beach. Authorities responded to Town Center Park, located at 17200 Collins Ave., shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report about the abandoned child.

A bystander alerted police that a 6-year-old boy had approached him in distress, stating that his mother, Elena Sexton, had left him at the park. The child told officers he had not eaten since breakfast and had been alone for approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

According to police records, the boy explained that Sexton had departed the park to obtain food with an acquaintance. Officers searched the vicinity but initially could not locate the mother, though she was eventually spotted returning to the park on foot.

When confronted, Sexton claimed she had parked at a nearby shopping center and briefly stepped away to retrieve toys. She stated she encountered a friend who invited her to eat, and she agreed while her son remained at the park.

Sexton was arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident, though the arrest report did not clarify whether the boy was placed in DCF custody or released to a relative.

As of Monday morning, Sexton remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with her bond status listed as pending determination.