Background: The intersection of Northwest Fourth Avenue and Northwest Eighth Street in Miami, Florida (Google Maps). Inset: Roslain Perdomo (Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation).
A troubling case has emerged in Florida, where a mother faces accusations of allowing her young daughter to endure squalid living conditions, which allegedly included a severe lice infestation. Roslain Perdomo, 36, has been taken into custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, facing charges of child neglect without causing great bodily harm. This distressing event unfolded on a recent Sunday.
The incident came to light when a Miami Police Department officer, while on patrol near Northwest Fourth Avenue and Northwest Eighth Street in Miami, encountered a concerning sight. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the officer noticed an adult woman and a young child, both unclothed, standing at the street corner. Seeking to understand the situation, the officer approached the woman, who identified herself as Perdomo, and inquired if she needed assistance.
Perdomo explained that her 3-year-old daughter had been acting out and insisted on going outside, leading her to accompany the child. However, when it was time to return indoors, the toddler resisted, complicating their return. The officer reportedly instructed Perdomo to retrieve her child and go back home, but the affidavit indicates she was unable to do so safely, possibly due to being under the influence of alcohol.
Recognizing the need for further assistance, the officer called for backup from the Miami Police Department’s Special Victims Unit, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. As the investigation continues, concerns about the child’s well-being remain at the forefront, prompting a deeper look into the circumstances surrounding this case.
The officer reportedly told Perdomo to “grab the child and go back home,” but she was unable to do so “safely.” The affidavit states that there was an indication the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.
The cop called on his radio for an officer with the Miami Police Department”s Special Victims Unit to help.
Authorities checked on the well-being of the child, finding — in addition to the lice infestation — that the girl “appeared malnourished and expressed she was hungry and thirsty,” the affidavit stated. Perdomo reportedly allowed officers to enter her home “to retrieve clothing,” and as they entered, they found a filthy setting.
“There was no edible food in the home, and there were roaches all over the food, furniture, and clothing,” authorities said. “The refrigerator and freezer were empty and infested with roaches,” and one officer “observed what appeared to be a large nugget of marijuana in plain sight, near the victim’s toys.”
Perdomo was arrested, the drugs were reportedly seized, and officers reported the situation to the Florida Department of Children and Families. It is unclear under whose care the child was placed.
The defendant’s bond is listed as “to be set.”
