Gainesville woman arrested for child neglect after reporting missing child

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Theola Jeannette Williams, 40, was arrested last night after deputies reported that her child went missing while she was intoxicated; the child was later found at a neighbor’s home.

At about 8:48 p.m. on August 14, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call about a missing child and reported that Williams was intoxicated and could not remember the last time she had seen the child; she also reportedly did not know whether the child had eaten anything since coming home from school.

A deputy reported that Williams showed indicators of severe impairment, including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and an inability to stand steadily. Williams reportedly said she had been drinking alcohol and did not know when the child had left her residence.

The child was found at a nearby neighbor’s residence. The neighbors reportedly said that Williams has their phone numbers, but she never called to see whether the child was with them. They said this is a common occurrence, and they believe the child comes to their home to escape Williams’s drunkenness.

The deputy reported that Williams’s intoxication left her unable to provide necessary supervision for the child, and this actively endangered the child.

Williams has been charged with child neglect without great bodily harm. She has one felony conviction (non-violent) and two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); Judge Gloria Williams released her on her own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.