Child found wandering alone wearing dirty diaper in Charlotte County, parents arrested

Authorities have arrested a 34-year-old woman and 38-year-old man in Charlotte County after a child was found wandering around a towing business on Monday.

Jacqueline Wells and Christian Zuber face charges of child neglect without great bodily harm.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, a child between the ages of four and six years old was found wandering the lot of Prompt Towing, at 11139 Tamiami Trail in Punta Gorda.

The child was naked, except for a soiled diaper, and her feet and hands “were extremely dirty.”

The towing business is in a high traffic area with speeds exceeding 45 miles per hour. There is also a pond nearby, according to the arrest report.

A sheriff’s deputy was able to determine who the lost child was by finding a child who was related to her, according to the sheriff’s office.

When they arrived the child’s home, which is about a quarter-mile away from the towing company, they found Wells, who said the girl was supposed to be sleeping.

The child’s home was in disarray, according to the report. Deputies found dirty diapers, a box cutter on the bathroom floor, piles of burnt cigarettes, a sewing needle on the bathroom counter, open prescription medication on the kitchen counter, and old food that appeared to be sitting for an extended period of time.

Deputies also found methamphetamine in the home and on Wells.

The child was placed with her grandmother.

This is not the first time Wells and Zuber have been arrested for losing their child.

In August of last year, the two were arrested after the girl, who is described as autistic, was found naked and playing in a ditch at a neighbor’s home.

In the arrest report, the two parents “both began to yell at each other saying that is a constant issue with the victim leaving the home and both are unaware when the victim does leave.”

On April 27, 2021, the child was found in the area of First Avenue running through the neighborhood unsupervised. On July 28, 2021, the child was found nude and walking around outside of the apartments near Pinetrial Road and Tamiami Trail.

At the time, the child was released to her grandmother.

Paul Foster found the girl the third time she was lost.

“It was a little shocking to see a young girl, you know with no clothes on, walking up and down the road, that’s not something you see every day,” Foster said. “I said where’s your mama? Mama! Mama! Mama, she says, you know so she, for whatever reason it didn’t sound like she could speak you know correctly.”

The two parents have previously pleaded no contest to the delinquency of a minor.

“Oh my gosh, that’s inexcusable you know,” Foster said. “If there’s meth involved that stuff destroys families … Obviously the girl knew how to get out of the front door and go do what she wanted to do. Maybe she needed to get out you know.”

Bond for Wells is set at $15,000. For Zuber, it’s been set to $20,000.