A 34-year-old Florida woman has been arrested after police say she left her 13-year-old daughter chained to a fence in sweltering heat for approximately an hour before going home to lie in bed and watch television, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law & Crime.
Background
Yashira Maldonado was charged with child abuse and child neglect following an incident Saturday morning in the 300 block of West 63rd Street in Hialeah. Police responded to a disturbance call around 10 a.m. and discovered the teenage girl chained to a fence with no food or water, subjected to the hot Florida sun.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor captured Maldonado allegedly dropping her daughter off at the location roughly an hour before police arrived, placing a metal chain around the girl's waist and securing it to the fence in front of the home where Maldonado's mother and grandmother lived, according to the affidavit.
After allegedly chaining her daughter, Maldonado sent a text message to her grandmother stating, 'I got fired from my job!!!!' while informing her that the girl was outside. The grandmother later discovered the victim restrained to the fence and attempted to free her but was unable to do so, the document stated.
The grandmother told investigators she chose not to contact law enforcement because she feared being evicted from the apartment. Police arrived shortly thereafter after another family member tried unsuccessfully to reach Maldonado.
The Investigation
When officers freed the girl, they found she had not been physically injured. Investigators say Maldonado admitted to tying her daughter up and claimed she did so for the girl's 'safety' and to prevent her from leaving, according to the affidavit.
Maldonado told police she left a backpack containing diapers and wipes behind for the child. She also acknowledged turning her phone on silent after leaving the scene so that no one could contact her, the document stated.
In statements to investigators, Maldonado expressed awareness that her actions 'look bad and are wrong.' However, she cited being 'overwhelmed' with caring for her daughter as her reason for needing a break before allegedly committing the act.
Key Takeaways
- Yashira Maldonado, 34, has been charged with child abuse and child neglect in Hialeah, Florida
- Police say she left her 13-year-old daughter chained to a fence for approximately one hour without food or water in summer heat
- Surveillance footage allegedly captured the defendant placing a metal chain around her daughter's waist before leaving the scene
- Maldonado told police she went home to rest and watch TV after tying up her child
- She claimed being 'overwhelmed' with caregiving responsibilities as motivation for the alleged act
- The girl was uninjured when police freed her from the fence
What's Next
Maldonado was arrested and transported to Miami-Dade Jail, where she has since posted a $10,000 bond. She pleaded not guilty to all charges during her initial court appearance.
Her next scheduled court date is set for September 9, according to court records. The case remains under investigation by the Hialeah Police Department.