Florida Couple’s Baby Has .383 Blood Alcohol Level in the Hospital

Baby Hospitalized With .383 Blood Alcohol Level as Port Richey Parents Face Child Neglect Charges

A 6 month old Florida girl was hospitalized after authorities say she was found with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.383, a level doctors said could have been fatal. Her parents, 36-year-old Jessie Waldroup and 27-year-old Desirae Uzunboylo, have been arrested and charged with child neglect in connection with the incident.

According to an affidavit reported by Law&Crime, the incident began on September 8th when the couple’s 7 year old son returned home from school and found his baby sister unresponsive in a playpen in her bedroom. The parents were reportedly asleep in the living room at the time.

The boy alerted authorities after determining that his sister was “not acting right or responding,” according to police. The infant was transported to a children’s trauma hospital, where medical personnel discovered the extraordinarily high blood alcohol level. Doctors reportedly told investigators that the baby could have died had her brother not discovered her and called for help. Medical staff also documented bruising on the infant that they described as highly suspicious for non-accidental trauma, according to the affidavit.

How Did the Baby Get Alcohol?

The circumstances surrounding how the infant consumed alcohol remain part of the investigation. According to the affidavit, both parents initially told investigators that they did not know how alcohol had entered their daughter’s system and denied consuming alcohol or drugs.

Investigators later learned that the family had gone to the beach the previous day with other relatives. One family member reportedly told police that he had filled a water bottle with vodka and placed it inside his backpack. According to the affidavit, Waldroup and Uzunboylo told investigators it was possible Waldroup mistakenly used the bottle containing vodka when preparing a bottle for the baby.

The couple’s 7 year old son also reportedly told investigators that he had seen Waldroup give the infant a bottle while the family was at the beach. Investigators eventually located the bottle allegedly used to feed the baby. According to the affidavit, deputies reported detecting a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from it.

A BAC That Raised Immediate Alarm

A blood alcohol concentration of 0.383 is extraordinarily high, particularly for a 6 month old infant. The medical consequences of alcohol exposure can be particularly serious in babies because of their small body size and developing physiology. The medical staff treating the girl reportedly concluded that her condition was potentially life-threatening. According to investigators, doctors believed the child could have died without the intervention of her older brother.

The case also involves the separate allegation concerning bruising found on the infant. Investigators reported that medical personnel considered the injuries suspicious for non-accidental trauma. That allegation remains part of the criminal investigation and has not been established as a fact in court.

The Parents Face Felony Charges

Waldroup and Uzunboylo were arrested on September 17th and charged with child neglect. Both subsequently posted bond and were released from the Pasco County Jail.

Their arrests are based on allegations contained in the police investigation and affidavit. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and the parents are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Florida law defines child neglect in part as conduct involving a failure to provide adequate care or supervision that places a child’s health or safety at risk. Florida law also specifically addresses circumstances involving a child being exposed to alcohol or controlled substances.

The investigation is continuing, and additional court proceedings could provide more information about exactly how the infant was exposed to alcohol and whether prosecutors pursue additional charges.

For now, one detail stands out from the case: a 6 month old baby ended up in a hospital with a .383 blood alcohol level, and according to investigators, it was her 7 year old brother who discovered that something was seriously wrong and got help.