A 29-year-old mother from Oklahoma, Rubi Verduzco, was arrested on child neglect charges after she allegedly left her baby abandoned in a casino with a soiled diaper on Christmas Eve. Verduzco was found in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida after her infant was discovered alone in a stroller at the casino by three unidentified men.
Police were called to the scene on December 24 when the men brought the baby to the bell desk at the casino entrance. Officer Joseph Cimino arrived to find the child in distress. “I observed an infant wearing a soiled diaper in a stroller out in the open elements,” Cimino noted in his report.
Authorities quickly began searching for the mother, who arrived at the casino approximately 15 to 20 minutes later. Verduzco, originally from Bethany, Oklahoma, was identified through her state medical marijuana card. Police described her as appearing intoxicated, with “bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.”
When questioned by officers, Verduzco was able to recall her child’s name but could not remember the baby’s age. Police said that this behavior raised concerns about her ability to care for her child, according to Local10.
Authorities also contacted the child’s father, who lives in Oklahoma. He reportedly told police to arrest Verduzco and requested that the state take custody of the child. As a result, Verduzco faces charges of child abuse and child neglect without bodily harm. The baby was placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families, WTVJ reported.
Verduzco was held on a $2,500 bond at the North Broward Bureau, while the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a sprawling luxury property designed to resemble back-to-back guitars, continues to be a well-known landmark in South Florida. The case has raised significant concern over Verduzco’s actions and the safety of her child, as police continue to investigate.