Yashira Marie Maldonado, 34, is facing child abuse and child neglect charges after allegedly chaining her 13-year-old daughter to a fence outside her great-grandmother's home in Hialeah, Florida, on a day when temperatures exceeded 36 degrees Celsius. The incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, July 11, according to Miami police.
Details of the Incident
Authorities arrived at the Hialeah residence after receiving reports of a disturbance. According to the arrest report, officers spoke with Maldonado's mother, who told them about the incident and where it had happened. She said she had gone to Maldonado's home to ask if she could pick up her granddaughter, but Maldonado did not answer the door.
Investigators said Maldonado had driven her daughter to the home in a beige Toyota Camry. "She wrapped a metal chain around the victim's waist and tied the other end to the house fence, restricting her from moving around," the arrest report reads. The teenager was left without food, water, or sun protection.
Discovery and Arrest
Neighbor's Ring camera footage showed Maldonado arriving just before 9 a.m. local time and leaving after chaining her daughter to the fence, leaving her only with a book bag containing clothes and medication. The teenager's great-grandmother said she tried to release her but could not.
Hialeah Police Lieutenant Eddie Rodriguez confirmed that a family member not living at the home called police. "Once the father got word of that, he contacted police. Officers arrived and sure enough found this 13-year-old child tied to the fence," Rodriguez said. He added: "It's horrible. She left her outside, no shade. Right in the sun. The heat alone... It's very sad for what happened to this 13-year-old child."
Aftermath and Charges
The arrest report revealed that Maldonado returned home and lay in bed watching television after chaining the child. Court documents show Maldonado admitted to wrongdoing and said she needed a break from caring for her daughter. She has since been released on bond and ordered to have no contact with her daughter.
