Florida Woman Jailed After Baby Found in Trunk With Hedge Clippers, Gas Can

Watkins told police she had her passenger slip the baby into the trunk because she didn't want to get ticketed for not having a car seat.

A 19-year-old South Florida woman faces child abuse charges after deputies say they found her 5-month-old child in her vehicle's trunk lying on a pair of hedge clippers and surrounded by dangerous objects including a gas can.

Broward Sheriff's deputies say they tried to pull over a silver Dodge Stratus on Tuesday because the car's headlight was out, but Breona Watkins kept driving.

Watkins finally stopped at 3100 West Sunrise Boulevard in Lauderhill, where she gave the deputy the fake name Todra S. Richardson, and said she did not have her license or wallet with her, according to an arrest report.

She gave her real name after the deputy's background check came out blank and said she lied because she didn't have a driver's license, the report said.

Watkins was arrested and her 14-year-old passenger told deputies the car belonged to his mother, Todra Richardson. When deputies called Richardson, she told them she did not give anyone permission to take her car.

As the 14-year-old was being detained, a deputy heard a baby crying from the trunk of the car, the report said. There, they found her 5-month-old son, lying inside the hot trunk on top of a large pair of brush cutting shears, a rusty metal hanger, a plastic CD case and a large rusted tire iron, deputies said. They said there was also a used gas can in the trunk, along with a used fuel pump, plastic bags and other hazardous materials.

Deputies said the baby was stuffed into the trunk through the rear seat opening of the car that folds down because she didn’t want to be ticketed for the child not being in a car seat.

When asked if she had made a mistake, Watkins told NBC 6, "I did."

Watkins is on probation from a robbery she was charged with in Georgia two years ago. Watkins remains jailed on $7,000 bail. It wasn't known whether she has a lawyer. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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