Man Played Video Games While Child, Dog Wandered Near Pond, Cops Say

When a 6-year-old girl was discovered wandering near a retention pond in Largo’s Rainbow Village with only her Chihuahua as company, Pinellas County Deputies launched a search for her parents.

The child was found at 125th Street North and 134th Avenue North around 8:07 p.m. Thursday. Her caregiver, however, didn’t notice her missing until nearly 1:30 Friday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies say Francisco Romero, 23, of Largo was tasked with watching the child while her mother was at work. Romero, however, didn’t notice the girl’s absence until a roommate returned home and let him know the child was gone.

Romero contacted the girl’s mother, who, in turn, left work and called 911.

When deputies arrived back at the scene, Romero “ultimately admitted he’d been playing video games and did not realize the child had left home.”

Romero was charged with child neglect without bodily harm. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Friday morning in lieu of $2,000 bond, jail records indicate.

Photo Credit: Francisco Romero/Pinellas County Jail