ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Authorities in Florida have taken two women into custody after two 5-year-old children were discovered “abandoned” in a shed, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reported that they were alerted early Saturday by a concerned individual who mentioned that two young kids had been left in a shed in Waldo, Florida.
The sheriff’s office interviewed two witnesses who claimed they found the 5-year-olds, noting that a brick was placed against the shed’s door, seemingly to trap the children inside.
The children had no food in the shed, which lacked electricity and running water. They also had no way to call for help.
The sheriff’s office also said a large knife was found within reach of the children.
According to deputies, 37-year-old Tamara Stoiber had left the children in the care of 59-year-old Sabine Thrift. However, Thrift allegedly refused to watch them, deputies said.
Stoiber reportedly told law enforcement officers that she “had only stepped away for a quick errand,” but according to authorities, she had been gone for hours.
Police did not say how the children ended up in the shed.
Thrift was arrested and charged with two counts of child neglect.
Deputies said Stoiber had left the children “without adequate supervision or basic necessities, including food, water, and access to a phone.” She was charged with two counts each of child neglect and false imprisonment.
“The safety and well-being of children remain a top priority for our agency. We are committed to protecting children from neglect and abuse, and we encourage the community to report any concerns involving child welfare. Together, we can help ensure every child has a safe environment to grow and thrive,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
