Police officers arrest mom after finding naked boy alone in South Beach hotel room

Police officers arrested Sara Knyane on Thursday at the Hotel Chelsea in Miami Beach and she was at TGKCC on Friday after appearing in court. (M-DCCR, Google Street View)

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 29-year-old migrant mother was behind bars Friday after Miami Beach police officers reported finding her 8-year-old son alone in a room at Hotel Chelsea in South Beach.

According to a police arrest report, Sara Knyane, who was born in Antigua and Barbuda, drove to South Florida from Canada about five months ago and was homeless.

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According to the police report, Knyane’s son said his mother had left him at the hotel, so she could go to work after they had McDonald’s for dinner.

Police officers reported finding the boy naked in bed watching TV, and when they asked him about his sweater with blood in the shower, he said, “last night he fell and bumped his head.”

Police officers arrested Knyane at about 2 p.m., on Thursday at the hotel on Washington Avenue, near 10th Street, and deputies booked her at 8:45 p.m., on Thursday, at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Knyane appeared in court on Friday and a judge ordered her to stay away from her son. She is facing a charge of child neglect without causing great bodily harm, a third-degree felony. Her bond is $2,500.

Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Carmen R. Cabarga was set to preside over the case.


About the Author
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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