A Texas healthcare executive, recently recognized on a national “40 Under 40” list, has been arrested after leaving her six-month-old baby unattended on a Florida beach. On October 10, 2023, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a baby found alone beneath a tent at Miramar Beach, located near 4000 Sandestin Boulevard.
Witnesses indicated that the child had been alone for nearly an hour while the parents, Sara Sommers Wilks, 37, and Brian Wilks, 40, walked along the shoreline with their three other children. Concerned beachgoers alerted local authorities to the situation.
Upon arrival, deputies from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, along with personnel from the South Walton Fire District, assessed the baby and determined that she was not in distress. The couple returned shortly afterward and reportedly admitted to leaving their child under the tent for a nap, claiming they had lost track of time. Security footage reviewed by investigators confirmed that the couple had indeed been away for almost an hour, leaving their cell phones with the baby.
Both Sara and Brian Wilks were charged with child neglect without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony under Florida law. They were booked into the Walton County Jail and subsequently released the following day on a bond of $1,000 each.
Following the incident, the Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the Wilks family’s four children until relatives from Texas could arrive to care for them.
Sara Sommers Wilks serves as the Regional President for Southeast Texas at US Heart and Vascular, a healthcare organization that supports cardiovascular practices across Texas, Alabama, and Arizona. Earlier this year, she was recognized in Cardiovascular Business magazine’s “Forty Under 40” list for her contributions to cardiology administration.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of child safety in a statement on social media, expressing gratitude to the beachgoers who intervened. Sheriff Michael Adkinson commended the quick actions of those who alerted authorities and provided care for the child, stating, “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.”
This incident raises critical discussions about child safety and parental responsibility during family outings. The Wilks’ situation serves as a reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when caregivers become distracted.
