Florida Mom Arrested: Left Four Kids Home Alone for Vegas Trip

Orlando police arrested a 50-year-old photographer on Friday for leaving four children home alone while she vacationed in Las Vegas. Irene Miller was taken into custody at Orlando International Airport on charges of child neglect, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Her children, aged 9, 11, 12, and 14, were left unsupervised at their condo in Kissimmee.

Officers notified Miller on Wednesday that her 9-year-old son had been rushed to the hospital with a head laceration. An older sister called 911 to report that a dumbbell had fallen on the boy. Miller told Capt. Kim Montes she was in Las Vegas until Friday and could not return home.

The accident occurred while the siblings attempted to build a blanket fort, using the weight to secure the fabric. A family friend described the scene as chaotic and noted there was a lot of blood. The children were placed in the care of their father, Mark Miller, 53, who was not aware his estranged wife had left them unsupervised. The children described themselves as ecstatic to be with their father.

Mark Miller was charged with criminal battery against Irene earlier this year. He was taken into custody on August 21 after allegedly striking his wife outside their children's school. He posted a $10,000 bond and was released. A judge issued a no-contact order on September 4 following the assault allegation. The Department of Children and Family Services later determined Mark was safe to care for the children.

The couple has been separating after 15 years of marriage. They lived together in the Kissimmee condo until August, when Irene accused Mark of abuse, an allegation he denies. Miller filed a dissolution of marriage petition in Osceola County on September 17 and remains in the family condo.

Mark Miller now lives with all four children in a single-room motel. He is seeking $5,000 on a GoFundMe campaign to support his family. He wrote that he is doing everything possible to keep his children safe and together. He stated he does not believe Irene is a bad person but said she made choices she did not fully think through.

Mark Miller, a Ukrainian-born father, described himself as the unexpected sole caregiver for his four children. Irene Miller, a Russian-born photographer, is currently living in the condo she shared with her husband until recently.