A North Miami Beach woman was arrested Monday after police allege she left her four children—including a two-month-old infant and a two-year-old toddler—home alone while she took a three-day cruise to the Bahamas.
Nathalie Belizaire, 29, faces four counts of child neglect without great bodily harm following an investigation that began after the children’s father reported concerns about their welfare. Authorities confirmed Belizaire boarded the Carnival Conquest cruise ship on September 25 and was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon her return to Florida on September 28.
Police respond to welfare check after father reports concerns
On September 26, the father of the two-month-old infant visited Belizaire’s residence and reported seeing a television on and hearing children’s voices inside, despite no adult presence. He had previously been told by Belizaire that the children would be cared for by their great-grandmother. After failing to reach Belizaire by phone, he contacted authorities.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and North Miami Beach Police responded to the apartment, where they forced entry and discovered all four children huddled together in a bathroom. The children included the two-month-old infant, a two-year-old, a pre-teen, and a teenager. Bodycam footage released by WPLG Local 10 shows officers counting the children as they emerged from hiding.
Belizaire’s statements and timeline of events
According to the arrest report, Belizaire initially told the children’s father that she would leave the children with their great-grandmother. However, police later spoke with the great-grandmother, who stated Belizaire never brought the children to her home. Belizaire’s brother also told police she texted him on September 26, instructing him to check on the children.
Belizaire was released into the custody of the North Miami Beach Police Department following her arrest. A judge set her bond at $10,000 during a Tuesday court appearance, where Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer questioned the circumstances of the case. "Who leaves four little kids alone to go on a cruise?" Glazer said, according to court footage. "We are just grateful nothing worse happened to these kids."
Background on the children and household
The four children involved in the case include the two-month-old infant, whose father is Lether Bazile, and three other minors. Police did not disclose the ages of the other children beyond identifying them as a two-year-old, a pre-teen, and a teenager. The children were found without adult supervision and were reported to be in stable condition following the welfare check.
Belizaire’s attorney has not publicly commented on the allegations. The case remains under investigation by the North Miami Beach Police Department and Miami-Dade County authorities.
Cruise line and port authorities confirm arrest
Carnival Cruise Line confirmed Belizaire was a passenger on the Carnival Conquest, which departed from Miami on September 25 and returned on September 28. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed her arrest upon disembarkation. The North Miami Beach Police Department has not released further details about the ongoing investigation.