A 34-year-old woman in Hialeah, Florida, faces child abuse and neglect charges after police say she chained her 13-year-old daughter to a fence for about an hour.
Yashira Maldonado was arrested Saturday after officers responded to a disturbance call at the 300 block of West 63rd Street. Surveillance footage showed her securing the girl with a metal chain around her waist before leaving the scene.
The grandmother attempted to free the child but could not remove the chain. She told police she avoided calling authorities out of fear of eviction from the apartment. The girl was found with no food or water and remained unharmed.
Maldonado admitted to the act, saying she did it for the girl's safety and because she felt overwhelmed. She reportedly turned her phone to silent, went home, and watched television. She posted a $10,000 bond and pleaded not guilty.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9.