Sara Wilkes, 37, and Brian Wilkes, 40, have avoided prosecution after agreeing to a deferred prosecution agreement that includes fines, community service, and a total ban from Walton County, Florida, where their six-month-old daughter was found alone on Miramar Beach last October. The Texas couple were initially charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. Under the agreement, each must pay a $1,000 fine, complete 25 hours of community service, attend a parenting class, and are barred from all 1,240 square miles of Walton County. If they fail to comply or face further legal trouble, prosecutors can reopen the case.
Incident Details
The baby was discovered by members of the public near the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa on Florida's Gulf Coast. Good Samaritans cared for the infant until deputies arrived. The baby's vital signs were normal and she showed no physical distress. Authorities said the couple returned while officers waited for paramedics. They admitted leaving the baby asleep under a beach tent while they walked with their three other children and 'lost track of time.' Surveillance footage showed neither parent took a mobile phone. The Florida Department of Children and Families placed the other children temporarily into state custody until relatives from Texas collected them.
Background and Reaction
Sara Wilkes is a regional president at US Heart and Vascular, using her maiden name Sara Sommers professionally. In 2025, she was named in Cardiovascular Business's 'Forty Under 40 Class of 2025' for improving patient care efficiency. Walton County Sheriff's Office Major Dustin Cosson criticized the couple, stating the time the baby was left alone was unreasonable. 'The baby could roll over and suffocate itself, or the wind could blow a towel over its face. There's no telling what could have happened,' he said. He urged visitors to use common sense: 'Yes, it's a bubble, but that doesn't mean as you cross over the county line or over the state line into Florida that we can just leave your common sense behind.' The deferred prosecution agreement allows the case to be dismissed upon compliance with all conditions.
