Florida Parents Arrested for Leaving Baby Alone in Running Car Outside Bar

In Palm Coast, Florida, a baby was found alone in an unlocked car with the engine running and keys in the ignition while the parents were inside a nearby bar drinking. Deputies responded to a 911 call and discovered the infant improperly secured in a car seat, with loud music playing in the parking lot. The parents, Clarisse Finnegan, 28, and Norman Finnegan Jr., 60, were detained and charged with felony child neglect without great bodily harm after inconsistent statements and witness reports confirmed they had been drinking. Sheriff Rick Staly condemned the parents' recklessness, emphasizing that leaving an infant unattended in a running vehicle, especially while drinking, is unacceptable and could have resulted in tragedy. The incident highlights serious child neglect, and authorities thanked the concerned citizen who reported the situation and the deputies who acted swiftly to protect the child. The investigation revealed discrepancies in the parents' accounts and confirmed their presence at the bar drinking, contradicting their claims of frequently checking on the baby.