Charlotte County grandmother faces child neglect charge

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- A grandmother was arrested Friday evening after deputies say she was found lying on the side of the road with her 2-year-old grandchild on top of her.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s arrest report, deputies say the woman was extremely intoxicated, could barely speak and they could smell alcohol on her breath.

It all happened inside the Riverwood community off El Jobean Road..

Terri Elmy, 57, now faces one count of child neglect.

Deputies tell WINK News the child was crying and was covered in mosquito bites.

According to the report, deputies say they found a four-pack of wine in the bottom of the child’s stroller and three bottles were empty. Authorities also found a six-pack of unopened beer.

According to the report, Elmy is a nurse at a local hospital.

Elmy spoke to WINK News over the phone and said what happened was “unintentional” and nothing like this has ever happened in the past.

Family members of Elmy tell WINK News, they believe she had a heat stroke and was not drunk like deputies described. They say she was tired from working and hadn’t eaten anything all day before she had only three glasses of wine.

The Department of Children and Families is now investigating this case.