Florida mother went on a cruise, but police say her four children were found hiding in a bathroom at home: ‘You cannot make this up’

Nathalie Beliezaire, a 29-year-old South Florida mother, was released on bond Tuesday night after being accused of leaving her four young children, including a 2-month-old baby, home alone for three days while she went on a cruise.

She walked out of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center before 9 p.m. and covered her face after noticing cameras outside the jail, according to CBS. Beliezaire faces four counts of child neglect and was arrested after she got off the cruise ship. She appeared earlier Tuesday in bond court before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer.

Glazer expressed disbelief while reviewing the allegations. “You cannot make this up,” Glazer said. “It says she went on a cruise and left her children home alone.”

Father called 911 after seeing a cruise ticket post

The arrest report said Beliezaire was supposed to drop the children off at their grandmother’s home before leaving for the cruise but allegedly never did. Cases of parents allegedly leaving children unsupervised have drawn scrutiny, such as when an Oklahoma couple was arrested for reportedly leaving three kids home alone to play pickleball.

“These poor kids were home alone for three days?” Glazer said. “I guess there’s probable cause for child neglect. We’re just grateful nothing else happened to these kids.”

Her public defender told the court that Beliezaire denied the allegations. “Judge, Ms. Beliezaire denies these allegations,” the attorney said. “Of course she does,” Glazer responded.

Glazer also pointed to the age of the youngest child. “The baby was born in July of this year. Who leaves a baby alone like that?” Glazer said.

North Miami Beach police entered the family’s apartment after the father of the 2-month-old baby called 911, according to the arrest report. Investigators said officers found the infant and the other three children without adult supervision. Police said the four siblings were found together, hiding in a bathroom. Body-camera video recorded officers entering the residence.

The infant’s father told investigators he had seen a WhatsApp story posted the previous Thursday that appeared to show a Carnival cruise ticket purchase. The arrest report said the father had been told the children would be supervised while Beliezaire was away. Two days later, he became concerned that no one was caring for them and contacted authorities.

The public defender asked the judge to consider pretrial services and an alternate bond and stressed that the accusations had not been proven. “At this time, it’s only an allegation. She denies the allegation,” the public defender said. “They arrested her disembarking the cruise ship,” Glazer responded.

Glazer set bond at $2,500 on each count. The judge also ordered Beliezaire to have no contact with the children, either directly or indirectly, and not to possess firearms, weapons, or ammunition. Beliezaire wiped away tears during the hearing. “Good luck to you, madam,” Glazer said after announcing the bond conditions.

Beliezaire posted bond and was released Tuesday night. The Florida Department of Children and Families is expected to investigate the case. Child neglect cases have drawn scrutiny across the region, such as when four children were found trapped inside a 99-degree hot car in an Alabama Walmart parking lot.