Vermont Mother Arrested After Children Left Home Alone in Florida

A mother from Vermont who left four children unsupervised at home while she traveled to Las Vegas for work was arrested in Florida after a 9-year-old boy was injured, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. On Oct. 21, a child called 911 after a dumbbell fell on the boy's head. Fire rescue transported him to the hospital for treatment.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they found children ages 14, 12, 11 and 9 were at home without an adult present. The responding deputy reached Irene Miller, 50, who told him she had been working in Las Vegas since Oct. 18 and planned to return Oct. 23. Miller said a babysitter came from Tampa each morning to ready the children for school and check on them after classes, but was not required to remain at the home overnight.

The 9-year-old was treated and released from the hospital. Authorities contacted the children's father and transferred custody of the four children to his home. Detectives met Miller when she arrived on her flight from Las Vegas on Oct. 23.

Miller is charged with four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm and was booked into the Orange County jail. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed the charges in its report on the incident.

The case remains with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. No court date has been announced in the filing.