MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A 31-year-old woman was taken into custody Tuesday morning after a toddler was found walking alone near the edge of a major Florida highway. Adriana Maripaz Vazquez Cano now faces a felony charge of child neglect following the incident in Key Largo.
The situation unfolded around 7 a.m. on February 17, 2026, when several drivers and passersby near Tarpon Basin Drive noticed a two-year-old child close to the flow of traffic on U.S. 1.
Witnesses told Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies that the child was barefoot, crying, and clearly distressed. Fortunately, despite the proximity to the busy road, the child was not injured.
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When deputies arrived on the scene, they began searching the immediate area for a guardian. They eventually located a nearby residence with the front door standing wide open. Upon entering to check for occupants, authorities noted that the house was empty and appeared to be in a state of significant disarray and uncleanness.
Cano returned to the home shortly after the deputies arrived. According to investigators, she told them she had stepped out and only intended to be away from the house for a few minutes. Because the child was left entirely unsupervised with access to a high-traffic area, Cano was arrested and transported to the local jail.
In accordance with standard protocol for cases involving the safety of a minor, the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified to investigate the living conditions and oversee the child’s welfare.
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