HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA — A couple is facing child neglect charges after police say they left three young children inside a parked Jeep while they gambled at a casino. The children, all under the age of 6, were found alone in the vehicle shortly after 1:30 a.m. According to Globe, Lillian Mun, 32, and her fiancé, Terrence Wright, 42, were arrested at the Seminole Classic Casino. Casino security officers found the children in the parking lot and alerted police.
Children Left Without Air, Food or Water
Hollywood police charged both adults with child neglect and leaving children unattended in a motor vehicle. The Jeep was switched off with its windows rolled up.
According to the criminal complaint, the children were left without ventilation, food, water or any way to call for help. It was 76 degrees outside with 89 percent humidity. Police said those conditions raised serious concerns about the children’s safety, especially because they were so young.
Parents Gave Police Different Stories
Mun and Wright gave officers different accounts of what happened. Wright, who returned to the vehicle first, reportedly said they had only gone inside to use the restroom.
Mun told a different story. She claimed she had stayed with the children at first and only went inside to look for Wright because he had the keys. She said she had been gone for about 20 minutes.
Surveillance Footage Told a Different Story
Casino surveillance footage gave investigators a clearer picture of the night. The couple arrived at around 11:10 p.m. Saturday, investigators said. Wright went inside first, and Mun did not follow until about 12:38 a.m.
The footage reportedly showed Mun watching Wright play the slot machines, checking her phone, and later playing the games herself. All the while, the children stayed in the Jeep outside. The video showed the children were left alone for much longer than the couple claimed.
Children Removed From the Home
Mun and Wright have been together for three years and lived with the children as a family, with Wright acting as their stepfather, according to the report.
After the arrests, the Florida Department of Children and Families opened an investigation into the children’s living situation. The children were removed from the home and placed temporarily with a friend of Mun’s. Officials have not said how long the children will stay in that arrangement.
Only One Parent Granted Bond
The couple faced different outcomes in court. Mun was denied bond because of an active probation violation tied to earlier felony grand theft and retail theft convictions.
Wright’s bond was set at $22,500, and he remains at the Broward County Main Jail. Neither has entered a formal plea to the child neglect charges. The case serves as a reminder of how dangerous it can be to leave young children alone in a vehicle, even when the weather does not seem extreme.
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