MOTHER ARRESTED AFTER TODDLER FOUND ALONE AT PLAYGROUND IN EXTREME HEAT
A Mary Esther woman was arrested Sunday after deputies discovered her three-year-old son had been left alone at a playground for nearly two hours in dangerously hot weather.
At 1:11 p.m. on June 15, 2025, while patrolling Silver Sands Premium Outlets, a Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy was approached by a concerned citizen. The individual reported that a young child had been playing alone in the playground since at least 11:30 a.m. According to witnesses, the toddler had nearly run into traffic before a bystander intervened and pulled him to safety. After trying unsuccessfully to locate the child’s parent, the good Samaritan brought the boy to Silver Sands security.
Deputies made contact with security staff at the outlet mall’s security office, where the child was safe and being cared for. While deputies were on scene interviewing witnesses, a woman, later identified as Danielle Bryant, 22, approached asking about her son. Bryant told deputies she had been working at a nearby store and had left her son at the playground, stating a friend was supposed to pick him up. She claimed she had been watching him through the store’s window while working.
However, Bryant was unaware that her son had been with a bystander for approximately 45 minutes or that he had attempted to run into traffic, prompting the witness to alert security. At no point did she contact law enforcement to report her child missing.
At the time, the temperature 88 degrees with a heat index of 101. The child had no food or water while left alone on the playground.
Bryant was arrested and charged with child neglect.
“This could have ended much worse,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Thanks to the good Samaritans who stepped in and the quick action by our deputies, this little boy is safe. But this kind of situation is not only dangerous, it is unacceptable.”
Bryant was released on her own recognizance (ROR) from the Walton County Jail this morning.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our community. Anyone with concerns about a child’s safety is urged to contact law enforcement right away.