Two Florida mothers are facing child abuse charges after allegedly locking their young children out of their home, prompting the 5-year-old and 7-year-old to walk to a nearby Publix grocery store in a desperate attempt to find food. Mikequisha Gordon, 36, and Latoya Garland, 40, were arrested in North Miami after a school resource officer discovered the unattended children on the street, where they reportedly had been trying to get back inside for hours.
Background
The incident unfolded near the intersection of NE 7th Avenue and 132nd Street in North Miami. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Gordon and Garland allegedly told the children to go outside to play at a nearby apartment complex before locking the door behind them. When the children grew tired and hungry, they returned to the apartment and knocked on the door multiple times, but their mothers allegedly did not answer.
The affidavit states that the 7-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy, driven by hunger, walked to a local Publix in an attempt to get food. Unable to secure anything to eat, they walked back to the apartment. It was during this return that a school resource officer spotted the unattended minors around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A neighbor attempted to contact one of the mothers but received no response.
The Investigation
Police officers arrived at the scene and knocked on the apartment door several times. Although they could hear a phone ringing inside, there was no response from the occupants. Authorities were forced to break into the apartment to gain entry. Inside, officers found Gordon and Garland passed out on the couch.
The affidavit describes the two women as "sluggish" and appearing to be "impaired by an unknown substance" when they were awakened by police. The children later told investigators that they had been locked out despite knocking on the door repeatedly. The discovery of the children wandering alone and the condition of the mothers led to immediate arrests.
The Charges
Gordon and Garland have been charged with child abuse. Following their arrest, both women were taken to the Miami-Dade County Jail. They remain in custody on $2,500 bonds each. The charges stem from allegations that they failed to provide necessary care and supervision for their young children, leaving them vulnerable to potential harm.
Key Takeaways
- Mikequisha Gordon, 36, and Latoya Garland, 40, are charged with child abuse in North Miami.
- Children aged 5 and 7 were allegedly locked out of their home and walked to a Publix for food.
- A school resource officer spotted the unattended children near NE 7th Avenue and 132nd Street.
- Police found the mothers passed out on the couch, appearing impaired by an unknown substance.
- Both defendants are being held on $2,500 bonds at Miami-Dade County Jail.
What's Next
Gordon and Garland remain incarcerated while awaiting further legal proceedings. Their next court dates have not yet been listed. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office will likely proceed with formal filings based on the probable cause affidavit, which details the timeline of the children's wandering and the officers' forced entry into the residence.