Florida Couple Arrested After Leaving Children Alone in Hotel Room to Drink
A couple from Delray Beach was arrested in Key Largo, Florida, for felony child neglect. Deputies allege the parents left their two young children alone in a hotel room for nearly an hour while they drank alcohol at the resort's swimming pool.
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1 MIN READ- A Delray Beach couple was arrested at a Key Largo resort for leaving their two children alone in a room.
- The parents were found drinking at the resort pool while the children remained unattended in their cribs for up to an hour.
- Hotel staff discovered the children after hearing a baby crying and alerted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
- Both parents face two felony counts of child neglect and the children were placed in state protective custody.
A disturbing incident occurred over the Fourth of July weekend at a Key Largo resort, resulting in the arrest of two parents. Authorities allege the couple left their young children unattended in a hotel room while they spent time drinking by the facility’s pool. The incident has sparked a serious investigation into child neglect.
Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Reefhouse Resort & Marina shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday. The situation came to light after resort staff heard an unattended infant crying inside a guest room. Upon entering, employees discovered two young children alone in their cribs and immediately contacted law enforcement.
Investigation into Hotel Child Neglect
Following their arrival, deputies located the parents, 43-year-old Brian Cannella and 40-year-old Allison Cannella, at the resort’s pool area. According to investigators, the couple had been consuming alcoholic beverages while their children were left completely unsupervised in their accommodation. Evidence gathered by officials, including security camera footage and witness statements, indicates that the children were abandoned for a duration ranging from 40 minutes to an hour.
Following the discovery, the children were placed into protective custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families. A family friend was initially involved in the care of the children until welfare officials could arrive on the scene to take over.
Both Brian Cannella and Allison Cannella were subsequently taken into custody and booked into the local jail. They each face two felony counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. As of the latest reports, the couple has not yet entered a plea regarding the serious allegations filed against them. Court proceedings are expected to follow, though specific attorney information was not immediately available for public release.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal and safety responsibilities parents hold while traveling. Maintaining supervision in any environment, especially within a hotel setting, is vital to ensuring the safety of minors. Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident as the legal process moves forward.
