A girl running away from home led to her mother being charged with child neglect.
West Palm Beach police said they arrested the 28-year-old woman after her eight-year-old daughter ran away from home, Saturday morning.
At the time, police asked for help finding a missing endangered child:
Luna Toledo-Torres was last seen running southbound on Flagler from 36th Street. Luna is non-verbal and may hide or flee.
Monday, they said officers went to look for the missing girl around N. Flagler Drive near 36th Street. They were on foot and used police and fire K-9s, the marine unit and a drone.
After about 30 minutes, one of the police K-9 officers spotted the girl running, several blocks from her home.
Police investigated and found four children, from seven months to eight years old, “appeared dirty, frail and underweight for their ages.”
Also, the school-age children were not enrolled in school, and there was no record of homeschooling.
Police said the girl who ran away was reportedly punished for taking food when she was hungry. The girl was locked in her room. Other punishments were being forced to compulsively brush her teeth and being put in an ice-cold shower.
The Florida Department of Children and Family Services removed all children from the home.
The mother was not named, but a 28-year-old woman from the neighborhood named Nicanol Torres was arrested for child neglect on Saturday evening, and released early Sunday, after posting bond.