Child supervision: Kissimmee mother arrested at Orlando airport

Irene Miller was cuffed at Orlando International Airport on Friday morning.

Osceola County deputies approached the 50-year-old as she exited her flight from Las Vegas. They escorted her through the terminal and booked her into the Orange County Jail on four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm.

The charges stem from events that began on Oct. 18, when Miller left Florida for work. On Oct. 21, shortly after 8:30 p.m., one of her children called 911 to report that a dumbbell had fallen on the head of her 9-year-old brother. Deputies responded to the Kissimmee home and found four children, ages 9, 11, 12, and 14, with no adults present. Fire rescue crews transported the injured boy to Celebration Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Miller told a deputy by phone that she was working in Las Vegas and planned to return on Oct. 23. She explained that she had hired a babysitter from Tampa to help the children prepare for school in the mornings and check on them later in the day. The sitter was not required to stay overnight, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities contacted the children’s father, who agreed to take all four kids to his home while detectives arranged to meet Miller at the airport.

Sheriff Chris Blackmon stated that the office will not tolerate child neglect. He added that cases will be investigated and charges will be brought against parents who are not properly supervising or caring for their children.