Woman on probation arrested for child neglect for taking drugs two days before giving birth, abandoning baby at hospital
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Elizabeth Monet Justiss, 39, was arrested yesterday and charged with child neglect with great bodily harm after allegedly taking drugs two days before giving birth and abandoning her baby in the hospital.
On July 29, Justiss gave birth to a baby girl, and at the time of the birth, Justiss reportedly tested positive for methadone, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana; the baby reportedly tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, and tests of the baby’s stool reportedly showed the presence of codeine, methadone, marijuana, and amphetamines. According to an investigation by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the fentanyl was not administered by hospital staff, and cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines are illegal and “would not be prescribed or administered in a clinical setting.” The investigation found that the infant was exposed to the drugs before birth.
The infant was immediately admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for “symptoms of narcotics withdrawal” and displayed “significant fussiness and feeding difficulties,” according to medical records. The infant was also diagnosed as failing to thrive because she remained below her birth weight when she was two weeks old.
Justiss reportedly admitted that she used fentanyl “two days” before giving birth. Justiss was discharged from the hospital two days after the birth, but the infant was hospitalized until August 18. In the twenty days the infant was hospitalized, Justiss allegedly failed to visit her even once and did not maintain communication with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The infant was eventually discharged into foster care after Judge Phillip Pena signed a shelter order. Justiss allegedly made no attempts to communicate with DCF or to visit the infant in the 30 days after the infant was released from the hospital.
On September 24, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Justiss’s car for an active felony warrant for violating probation, and she was charged with driving with a suspended license as a habitual offender and child neglect with great bodily harm.
Justiss has three felony convictions (non-violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and had a warrant for violating probation by testing positive for amphetamine/methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and cocaine on a urine test in October 2024. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered her held without bail until the probation violation is resolved and set bail at $50,000 for the child neglect charge and $15,000 for driving with a suspended license.
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.
Another candidate for Mother of the Year.
Completely unfit. Do not let this poor baby anywhere near this creature. I hope the baby will be ok.
Unlike the detractors, I have hope that this woman can get her act together. Whether she does or not will largely depend on how other people treat her. To every reader and commenter here: You have the choice to be a help or a hindrance.
I know a woman who was in a similar situation about ten years ago. She had given birth, and her son had tested positive for amphetamines. She went to jail, got vilified in the news, and then came to GRACE Marketplace where I met her. I had recently recovered from years of alcoholism following the death of my wife due to medical negligence, and I had lived at GRACE Marketplace myself. Only by the grace of God had I recovered, so I spent time with a church group there, pre-CoViD, sharing both my story and just how good God is. Long story short, that woman is now wildly successful, free from drugs, a doting mother to all of her children, and she credits me in large part (I give the credit to God) for helping her transform her life. Of me and my story, she said to herself, “If he can do it, I can do it.” And so she did it. We’re still close friends.
It’s easy to judge. It’s a lot harder to look past the exterior, muster hope, and maybe lend a helping hand. Not too many people believe in legitimately hard work anymore, but it does pay off.
Sorry, but if the birth of a child doesn’t straighten you out. I don’t know what will. Not visiting child at least. Nope no pity child is important. How many more children will she bring into the world?
You have said the truth: You don’t know. My friend also abandoned her child for a time, because she knew she was in trouble and she was embarrassed. She knew she was in no shape to care for her child, so she actually did the most responsible thing short of turning herself in. I don’t know how much work it will take for this woman to get her act together, but I do know there is hope for her if she is encouraged instead of demonized, helped instead of hindered. You have a choice. Think about it.
Was it her 4th offense, too?
It was one of many offenses, as it is with all addicts. The number is irrelevant, however, because with God all things are possible. Your detraction from that is to your discredit, not hers.
Who’s the dad, another dirtbag deserving sterilization? Time to open up Alligator Alcatraz for caseloads like her.
ACLUSPLCDNC would fight that of course 👺👹👿💩🤡
tubal ligation is too good for this woman, but it would be a good start.
https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=J36843&TypeSearch=AO
Wow, she is 39! She looks 59. Drugs ruins people.
Except ASO wrong asserted marijuana is illegal , cant be prescribed? Other than that ya she is fd up, poor kid