Florida mom allegedly left teen daughter with special needs chained to fence in the sun
07/15/2026 1:59 pm PDT
HIALEAH, Fla. (TCN) -- A 34-year-old mother is facing child abuse charges after police allege she chained her teenage daughter with special needs to a fence in the sun without access to water or shade.
Based on home surveillance footage, Yashira Maldonado allegedly drove her daughter to her grandmother’s house on July 11, wrapped a chain around her waist, and attached the end of the chain to the fence, NBC Miami reports. She allegedly left the girl with a bag containing clothing, diapers and wipes, and medication, but the girl was in the sun without shade or water.
Maldonado then left, allegedly turned off her phone’s notifications, and went home to watch television, per NBC Miami. Maldonado allegedly sent her mother a text that she had just been fired, WPLG reports. Her mother then went outside and found the girl chained to the fence. She tried to free her but was not successful and drove to Maldonado’s home to ask her to let the girl go. The grandmother claimed she did not call the police because she did not want her landlord to evict her.
When the girl’s father learned what had occurred, he called the police, CBS News reports.
Police then found the girl, who had been chained to the fence for about an hour, WPLG reports. She was safe and unharmed.
According to court documents obtained by CBS News, Maldonado said she left her daughter chained to the fence because she needed a break from caring for her. CBS News reports that according to a neighbor, the girl has special needs.
Maldonado is facing charges of child abuse and neglect, according to WPLG, and was ordered held in jail on $10,000 bond. Law & Crime reports she is due back in court on Sept. 9.
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