A Florida mother and her boyfriend, Aquania Estes and Pitrez Floyd, have been accused of abandoning a six-year-old girl and her dog at a park in Deltona. Reportedly, the girl was hungry and thirsty, and authorities found out that she was homeless and didn't attend school.
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According to the
Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO), the incident took place on Friday, April 4. At around 4:30 p.m., a woman called authorities after she found a six-year-old girl wandering in her residence with her dog, located near Vann Park. Upon arrival, the girl was found "sitting in a chair in her carport."As per the VSO, the girl was "hot, thirsty, and hungry" at the time. Thankfully, the woman and her neighbor gave the girl some food and water. Additionally, they also brought toys and clean clothes for her. The Deltona Fire Rescue evaluated her and confirmed that she was stable.
VSO deputies confirmed that Estes and Floyd had dropped off the girl in the surrounding area in the morning. Bodycam footage shared by the VSO shows the girl explaining that to the responding deputies. Moreover, the girl then explained that her mother and her mother's boyfriend had walked her to the park and didn't specify when they would be back. Moreover, they found out that the six-year-old was homeless and didn't go to school. She told deputies that she was going to be homeschooled.
Girl Transported, Couple Arrested
The girl was later transported to the Volusia Family Resource Center. In the bodycam footage, the girl appears excited over the idea of traveling in the police car. Authorities would later identify the girl's grandparents, who they contacted to take custody of the girl. The girl's dog, whose name is Ghost according to her, was turned over to Deltona Animal Control, according to Fox 35.
As per the VSO, the Deltona Crime Suppression Team was able to track the girl's mother and her boyfriend on April 5 at around 1 a.m. They were both charged with desertion of a child and abandonment of an animal. While the VSO didn't name the suspects, Fox 35 identified them as 27-year-old Aquania Estes and 29-year-old Pitrez Floyd.
