A Florida mother has found herself facing legal trouble after an unsettling incident involving her young daughter at Universal CityWalk. Amanda Thorpe, a 33-year-old resident of Lake Mary, has been charged with child neglect. The charges come after she allegedly left her 12-year-old daughter unattended at a bar while she enjoyed drinks elsewhere, as reported by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident unfolded on a Saturday night, drawing the attention of law enforcement around 10:30 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to the CW Shoreline Bar following reports of a missing child, who had been left behind in a worrying situation.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered the young girl in a state of distress. According to the arrest affidavit, the 12-year-old was “visibly upset, crying, and sitting alone on a bar stool,” painting a concerning picture of her predicament.
It emerged that Thorpe had departed the CW Shoreline Bar, leaving her daughter on her own, before heading off to another establishment within the bustling Universal CityWalk area. The Sheriff’s Office noted that the mother’s actions were reportedly triggered by a comment from someone at the bar, leading her to seek refuge elsewhere along the popular entertainment strip.
Thorpe’s decision to leave her child unattended has raised serious questions and has resulted in her arrest on charges that reflect the gravity of the situation. The case now serves as a stark reminder of parental responsibilities and the potential legal consequences when those duties are neglected.
Officials said someone at the bar made a comment that upset Thorpe, prompting her to leave and go to another bar along CityWalk.
The affidavit states that when Thorpe’s daughter said she wanted to return to the hotel because she was tired, Thorpe became “livid,” “displayed the middle finger, said, ‘F— you,’” and left the bar without her daughter.
Deputies later found Thorpe alone on the dance floor at the Red Coconut Club with an alcoholic beverage, police said.
Amanda Thorpe, 33, of Lake Mary, was charged with child neglect after allegedly leaving her 12-year-old daughter alone at a bar in Universal CityWalk, authorities said. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the affidavit, Thorpe told deputies she did not realize her daughter was missing and “believed that she was with her the whole time.”
Thorpe later claimed her daughter was in the hotel room and not at CityWalk, the affidavit states.
Deputies said Thorpe had bloodshot eyes, was swaying and unsteady, and had a fruity odor on her breath, according to the report.
The girl’s grandfather later picked her up, authorities said.
Orange County deputies responded to a report of a missing 12-year-old girl at Universal CityWalk in Orlando, where police said the child had been left alone. (Katie Rice/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Thorpe was released on a $2,500 cash bond. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Thorpe’s attorney for comment.
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