An Oklahoma mother is behind bars after abandoning her infant during a trip to a Florida casino.
Rubi Verduzco, 29, was arrested on December 24th on two counts of felony child neglect after the baby was found at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. A police officer arrived on Christmas Eve and found the infant in a soiled diaper, left out in the open. An employee told authorities that three men had dropped the baby by the bell desk and walked away. The infant was allegedly alone for 30 minutes before the officer arrived.
Verduzco appeared 15 minutes later, claiming she had fought with her “Baby Daddy” and left the baby with unnamed friends. She was reportedly intoxicated, with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the strong smell of alcohol. She gave police the baby’s name but was unsure of the child’s birthdate. When asked about the father, she contacted a man who initially claimed to be in Oklahoma but later said he was in Orlando and unsure if he could retrieve the baby.
Verduzco was arrested for not knowing who was watching her child or for how long. The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the infant, and Verduzco was booked into Broward County Jail with a $2,500 bond.
