Volusia County mother under investigation after 7-year-old son found home alone while she worked

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A mother in Volusia County was under investigation Tuesday after investigators said her 7-year-old son was found home alone while she was at work.

The boy was found sitting on a curb by himself at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, deputies said.

When contacted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the boy’s mother told investigators that her son had gotten sick at school and she left him home because she had to go to work.

Speaking to Channel 9, the boy’s mother said she works at a farm and doesn’t take her children there because she’s afraid they will be exposed to pesticides.

The curb where the 7-year-old was found was down the street from his home, deputies said.

Neighbor Erik Hernandez empathized with the mother.

“I’m pretty sure that was a tough situation where she had no choice,” he said.

The Florida Department of Children and Families officials said there is not a specific law about children being left alone, but that it comes down to the child’s maturity level.

In Monday’s case, the responding deputy reported that the boy did not know who to contact in an emergency.

In a situation where a child cannot take care of his- or herself, it is the parent’s responsibility to find someone else to care for them, DCF said.

The mother in the case was not arrested, but the deputy filed an affidavit accusing her of child neglect.

It will be up to the State Attorney’s Office to decide if the mother will be charged.

Cox Media Group