Executive and her husband arrested, accused of leaving sleeping infant alone on a beach nearly an hour

A Texas couple is facing child abuse charges after allegedly leaving their baby unattended as they went for a walk on the beach.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived in response to an emergency call, “witnesses confirmed the child had been left alone for nearly an hour while the parents walked down the beach with three other children,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported.

TEXAS PARENTS ARRESTED AFTER LEAVING INFANT UNATTENDED ON BEACH FOR NEARLY AN HOUR IN WALTON COUNTY

WALTON COUNTY, FLA— Two Texas parents are facing child abuse charges after deputies respond to the beach in Miramar Beach in Walton County regarding a six-month-old child left… pic.twitter.com/oE9it0CLLg

— Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida (@WCSOFL) October 14, 2025

Brian Wilks and his wife, Sara Sommers Wilks, who serves as the regional president for US Heart and Vascular in southeast Texas, were reportedly vacationing with their family at Miramar Beach in Florida.

Sommers Wilks, 37, and Wilks, 40, were arrested and charged with child neglect without great bodily harm after good Samaritans found the 6-month-old infant on the beach near the Hilton Sandestin resort.

“While deputies waited for South Walton Fire District personnel to arrive and assess the infant, the parents returned to the scene, where both admitted to placing the child under the tent for a nap before leaving with their other children, claiming they lost track of time,” the Walton County Sheriff’s Office noted.

“Security footage obtained during the investigation confirmed the family was away for nearly an hour and did not bring their cell phone with them,” the press release stated.

“It’s right there at that hour time frame, 50 minutes to an hour, way longer than what would be reasonable,” Major Dustin Cosson with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office told KTRK-TV.

The couple’s explanation that they lost track of time did not go over well.

“That’s all fine and dandy, but you don’t just leave a baby at a house and then leave and go off to the store,”  Cosson said. “The baby could roll over and suffocate itself, or the wind could blow a towel over its face. There’s no telling what could have happened.”

Thankfully, the baby’s vitals were normal after South Walton Fire personnel evaluated her. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified and took custody of the couple’s other three children until family members could pick them up.

Police said the couple was released on a $1,000 bond the following day.

“We’re thankful for the quick-thinking beachgoer who raised the alarm and for those who stepped in to care for the child with the same kindness and concern they would show their own,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson.

“Sara was named as part of Cardiovascular Business’s ‘Forty Under 40 Class of 2025’ in April,” Daily Mail reported.

“Sara, who appears to go by her maiden name Sommers professionally, holds an MBA and has ‘created a more cost-effective and streamlined experience for patients’ at US Heart and Vascular (USHV), according to Cardiovascular Business,” the outlet added. “The company is a national provider of support services for independent cardiovascular physician practices.”

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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