After police responded to a report of two 5-year-old children discovered confined and abandoned inside a shed, two Florida women were taken into custody, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a social media post from the sheriff’s office, deputies were called early Saturday by a worried citizen who said that two small children had been discovered abandoned in Waldo, a tiny hamlet east of Gainesville.
The two kids had been discovered by witnesses inside a shed. According to the post, they informed deputies that the kids had been trapped inside the shed and had a block pressed up against the door, presumably to keep them from leaving.
Deputies observed that a big knife was within the children’s grasp, and the shed lacked running water and electricity. It went on to say that they had been left without food or a means of contacting assistance.
Two women were identified by witnesses as being involved in the incident. According to the investigation, Sabine Thrift, 59, was placed in charge of the children by Tamara Stoiber, 37, but Thrift allegedly refused to keep an eye on them.
According to the post, Stoiber said she had only left for a little errand but was gone for several hours.
Thrift was taken into custody and accused of neglecting two children. After posting a $20,000 bond, she was taken to the Alachua County Jail.
Additionally, Stoiber was taken into custody after deputies found that she had neglected to provide the kids with proper supervision or basic supplies like food, water, and a phone.
She was placed into the Alachua County Jail on a $70,000 bail after being charged with two counts of child maltreatment and two counts of false imprisonment.
According to the post, our agency continues to place a high premium on the safety and welfare of children. We encourage the community to report any issues pertaining to child welfare because we are dedicated to safeguarding children from abuse and neglect. By working together, we can guarantee that every child has a secure environment in which to develop and flourish.
