Ashley Burdick faces child neglect charges in Brevard County after allegedly leaving her young autistic son home alone for days amid unsanitary conditions and aggressive dogs. A neighbor's concern prompted a deputy's visit on April 10, revealing the boy had been unsupervised for about four days. The child reported past instances of being left without food for weeks and physical violence by his mother.
On April 10, a Brevard County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to a home in Merritt Island, Florida, following a neighbor's report that a young child with an autism diagnosis had been left alone for approximately four days with multiple aggressive dogs and no adult supervision, according to an arrest affidavit. The boy communicated with the deputy through a bathroom window, confirming he had been home alone and providing his mother's phone number, which went straight to voicemail. Deputies then contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families for further investigation. Burdick, 41, was charged with child neglect without great bodily harm and has since been released from jail, Brevard County court records show. She is scheduled for arraignment on May 14. A state investigator observed feces on the floor and overall unsanitary conditions at the residence, deeming it unsafe for a child. The boy told investigators he had previously gone without food for about two weeks, experienced physical violence from his mother, once became intoxicated after drinking juice laced with moonshine, felt unsafe, and was not enrolled in any schooling. A witness reported that Burdick had occasionally left the child with her for breaks and instructed her not to speak with the Department of Children and Families about the situation.